MS Thorbjørn at the ferry landing |
|
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | MS Thorbjørn |
| Owner: | AUF |
| Port of registry: | NOR |
| Ordered: | 1948 |
| Builder: | Oskarshamn Shipyard |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Rebild L50 landing craft |
| Length: | 17.18 m (56.4 ft) |
| Beam: | 4.8 m (16 ft) |
| Depth: | 1.15 m (3.8 ft) |
| Capacity: | 50 passengers |
| Crew: | 2 |
MS Thorbjørn (call sign LILU) is a vessel owned by AUF. Under AUFs annual summer camp, the vessel shutteld between Utøya and Utøykaia on the mainland. The vessel was built at Oskarshamn Shipyard in 1948. It was previously called Rasmus and was bought by AUF in 1997 for 250 000 SEK. The ferry is certified for 50 passengers and can carry small vehicles.[1]
Contents |
Before the vessel was converted into a civilian passenger ferry, it was a military landing craft of the L-50-type. These landing crafts were used by the Swedish Navy and the Swedish coastal artillery from the 1950s to the 1980s. The L50-boats were used by Coastal Rangers for fast landing of personnel under fire.
As the vessel used for shuttle transport to shore, MS Thorbjørn was used by the terrorist to reach Utøya before the attack on the AUF summer camp. A few minutes after the first shots were fired, the vessel left the island with nine on board - mostly people who were located in the administrative building near the dock, including AUF leader Eskil Pedersen. As the nature of the situation remained unknown, the vessel took a different course than the normal shuttle traffic, where it grounded at its destination. The vessel was not used again until Police had apprehended the shooter[2].