|
My carrier at sea began in 1972 just a week before I became 15 years old. Every year from 1966 I got permission to take trips with my father one week during the summer time bu he was AB's at Icelandic State Shipping. My first vessel was Esja (III) owned by that company as I was in fact travelling with my father with the vessel when two ab's didn't show up at departure from port of North coast of Iceland. The son of the AB's was then promoted to deckboy. My father was in the company from 1959 till closing of the company in 1992 and was my role model in safety matters as he was the first seafarer in Iceland using safety helmet onboard and was thought to be a bit strange doing so in that days.. |
|
I was just a week on Esja but signed on as a trainee on the Coast Guard vessel Óðinn (III) just week after I returned form the Esja voyage. This was the summer of 72. |
|
That summer didn't change my plans to become captain in the merchant fleet. Definately the Coast Guard was not my field of seamanship but this was a enjoyable time and still I have good friends from that time and the captain is one of them. That summer we where quite occupied with research on the wreck of the WWII tanker El Grillo which was sunk in Seyðisfjörður on the East Coast of Iceland. Here I am assisting the divers with theyr gear. I was the one who had good camera at that time so I was given the promotion to take photos for the Coast Guard of the operation. |
|
In 1984 I was Chief Officer (and Captain) of the Icelandic State Shipping vessel Hekla. The crew is seen here the day after we changed flag from Norwegian to Icelandic following sale of the vessel to our company. She had been chartervessel in our company since 1981. I was first supercargo but after decission was taken by the company to by the vessel an Icelandic crew replaced the Norwegian one. |
The ships I have served on are following:
As a Trainee and AB seaman:
Esja (III)
Óðinn (III)
Herjólfur (I)
Gullfoss (II)
Kyndill (II)
Glomar Challenger
As deck officer:
Grundarfoss
Bifröst
Hekla (II)
Langá
Jökulfell (II)
As supercargo and chief mate:
Coaster Emmy
Vela
As Captain:
Hekla (III)
Askja
Sæbjörg (II)
Katla (II)
Baldur EA
Akraborg (III)
Sæbjörg (III)
