HISTORIC WORLD WAR II NORWEGIAN VESSEL TO VISIT THE TYNE AS PART OF 80TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIONS
On route from its home base in Norway, the historic World War I and II veteran ship S/S Hestmanden is making its way to the United Kingdom as part of the celebrations marking the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II.
“Hestmanden is more than just a ship. She is a floating memorial to thousands of Norwegian sailors who risked everything for freedom,” said Hallvard Klungtveit, Head of Department for S/S Hestmanden, which now serves as the Norwegian War Sailors Museum.
“Bringing her to the Tyne, a place that was a lifeline for the Allied convoys, is profoundly meaningful. We look forward to sharing her story with the people of Newcastle and the North East, who played such a vital role in maritime history.”
As part of The Liberation Convoy, a fleet of distinguished Norwegian vessels, Hestmanden will visit several UK ports, including a special stop on the River Tyne.
Hestmanden holds remarkable historical significance. She is the only surviving vessel from the Nortraship fleet, Norway’s most significant contribution to the Allied effort
during World War II. During World War I, Hestmanden was requisitioned by the British government and operated by a British crew to supply the British Isles. In World War II,
after escaping the German occupation of Norway in 1940, she was stationed in Britain, distributing vital resources from Atlantic convoys along the coast.
Today, after extensive restoration, Hestmanden is preserving the story of the brave War Sailors who supported the Allied cause. While docked on the Tyne, the ship will
offer free admission to the museum on board. Visitors will be invited to explore exhibitions housed within the ship’s hull and experience the authentic 114-year-old steam engine, which remains operational. This is a rare opportunity to step aboard a living piece of maritime history.
“My two grandfathers both served as war sailors in the Norwegian merchant navy, so this project is deeply personal to me,” said Ragnhild Bie, conservator onboard SS Hestmanden and thus the in-house historian at The Norwegian War Sailor’s Museum. “To sail Hestmanden to the River Tyne, where so many wartime journeys began or ended, is to honour not just Norwegian wartime history, but our shared history with the UK. Every visitor who steps aboard will be walking in the footsteps of the brave men who fought not with weapons, but with endurance and courage at sea.”
Currently, it is planned for the ship to be open to the general public from 11:00 to 16:00 on Sunday 31st May, Monday 2nd June, Tuesday 3rd June, and Wednesday 4th
June. School, Cadet, and Community group visits may also be arranged separately. Trinity House, Newcastle, is coordinating these visits, and depending on the interest
shown, public opening hours may be adjusted accordingly.
S/S Hestmanden’s arrival on the Tyne will be marked by a ceremonial escort of local boats organised by the Maritime Volunteer Service, welcoming her from North Shields upriver to Newcastle. During her stay, the vessel will also host local dignitaries, sea cadets, and members of the public who wish to learn more about her extraordinary story.
A special commemorative service will be held at the Chapel of the historic Trinity House on Newcastle’s Quayside on Sunday 1st June 2025 at 1:00 pm. A wreath-laying
ceremony will take place at the Norwegian war graves at St Andrew’s Church, Jesmond, on Tuesday 3rd June at 1:00pm.
“The Newcastle upon Tyne Trinity House is proud to be supporting S/S Hestmanden when she visits the river Tyne, this being her only call to an English port in the commemorative programme,” said Captain Stephen C. Healy, FNI Master, Trinity House, Newcastle. “This historic visit reaffirms the deep maritime bonds between Norway and the North East of England. It is a tremendous privilege to help honour the legacy of the War Sailors who, through peril and sacrifice, helped to secure the freedoms we cherish today.”
The S/S Hestmanden team is keen to connect with local museums, associations, schools, and community groups to collaborate in commemorating this historic visit and
celebrating the enduring friendship between Norway and the people of Newcastle and the North East of England.
For information on organised group visits to the S/S Hestmanden and details of the commemorative events, please contact Trinity House:
Email: enquiries@trinityhousenewcastle.org.uk
Telephone: 0191 232 8226