Bergensfjord (II) 

Bergensfjord as seen from the 320 meter high Mt. Floyen in Bergen, arriving at the Hurtigruten terminal at the 11th of june, 2015.

Fjord Line dates back to 1993 and after facing almost bankrupcy in 2006, the company was taken over and merged with Master Ferries in 2008. Slowly, the company started to grow again, untill in 2013 and 2014 two modern ferries could bring them back to the foreground of Norwegian shipcompanies. Today, it can be said that it is a modern and very reliable northern European ferrycompany again.

Bergensfjord is the second of the two newbuilds, following her sister Stavangerfjord that entered service in 2013. It is the second time the name is used for the line, as between 2008 and 2014 the first Bergensfjord sailed the same route. This ship had been built for Fjord Line as Bergen in 1993 and started up the company. She was re-named Oslofjord when the new Bergensfjord came into service and is still part of the company as such.

The second Bergensfjord was ordered in 2010 when the company was again sure of their financials. The ship measures 31.678 tons, is 170 meters long, 27,50 meters wide and her draft is 6,35 meters. Her passengercapacity is 1200 in winter and 1500 in summer as in the Scandinavian winters only cabins are used and there are no places for deckpassengers then. There is also space aboard for 600 passengercars and some 80 crewmembers. The ship can sail a speed of 21,5 knots and is running on LNG (Liquiefied Natural Gas), one of the most environmentfriendly fuels. It is practicly free of sulfur and particulate emissions, it reduces CO2 by 20-25% and nitrogen oxides by 90%. Bergensfjord and her sister are the first ships in the world that are solely running on LNG and as such, these ferries are among the most environmentfriendly ferries in the world. In the port of Hirtshals, Denmark, an LNG plant offers bunkering to the ships and is large enough to also provide large parts of Denmark with the gas, commissioned at the end of june of 2015. The ship was built as wharfnumber 88 at the Stocznia Gdanska in Gdansk, Poland and launched traditionally at the 1st of march of 2013. She left Poland for Rissa in Norway at the 12th of march and in Rissa, at the Bergen Group Fosen yards, the ship was completed. Her trials were sailed in december of 2013 and the ship was delivered to Fjord Line at the 3rd of february of 2014. 

At the 6th of march 2014 the ship was named in the port of Bergen and afterwards started her sailings between Bergen, Risavika and Hirtshals in Denmark from the 9th of march onwards. She also sails the route between Hirtshals and Langesund. 

Passengers aboard can choose from eight different cabin categories and this is quite somehing for a ferry. The largest restaurant aboard is named the Commander Buffet and seats 250 passengers. Next to this, there is a steakhouse for 62 passengers and an Oasis Garden Café seating 280. Also, a wine and tapas restaurant is aboard, seating 104 passengers. Next to te restaurants, the ship has a vey large tax-free shop aboard, the large Fjord Lounge offers shows and artists of every kind and for more quieteness there is also a pianobar. For children, many activities are organized and a playhall for adults and children also is there where different games can be played.