MS Henrik Ibsen

Historical journey with MS Henrik Ibsen on the Telemark Canal.

The M/S Henrik Ibsen is a historical 100 feet long passenger boat from 1907 sailing the Telemark Canal during the summer season. The boat was built at the mechanical manufactory Eriksberg in Gothenburgh in 1907 and was than named D/S Styrsö.

Until 1970 the former D/S Styrsö was operating as a cruise ship within the archipelago of Gothenburgh. After that she was used for charter trips. In 1952 the original steam-engine of the boat was replaced by a Burmeister & Wain Alpha 406 FLO at the Falkenberg dockyards. In 1992 the ship was finally put into operation on the Telemark Canal. At the same time the boat was renamed M/S Henrik Ibsen after the former steam-engine ship D/S Henrik Ibsen, which was known to have been the fastest and most luxurious boat ever, sailing on the Telemark canal between 1907 and 1917. From 1992 until 2009 M/S Henrik Ibsen was owned by Skien Dalen Skipselskap AS.
In October 2009 the boat was sold to Thor Morten Halvorsen, owner of the Dalen Hotel and Telemarkskanalen Skipselskap AS. The restoration began. First the hulk and drive device were renovated by Hansen & Arntzens dockyard in Stathelle. Afterwards the boat was brought to Fjærholmen trebåtbyggeri og Båtbygger Geir Røvik in Tønsberg to get a new promenade deck, wheelhouse, cabin, saloon and restaurant as well as new electrical equipment.