Timeline
Herjólfur is the name of four car ferries that has sailed between Vestmannaeyjar to Landeyjahöfn and Þorlákshöfn. Our current Herjólfur, is our fourth one. The ferry was taken in use on the 25th of July 2019 and is the first one that is hybrid. Herjólfur IV takes 65-70 cars and 540 passengers. The ferries are named after Herjólfur Bárðarson, he was considered the first settler of Vestmannaeyjar.
Herjólfur I
The first Herjólfur sailed daily between Vestmannaeyjar and Reykjavík and as well as once every two weeks to Hornafjörður. Over the summer the ferry also sails to Þorlákshöfn once a week. Herjólfur I arrived new to the country in December 1959 and was on these voyages until July 1974. This ferry was owned by the State Ship Company and the people of Vestmannaeyjar had little to say about how it was operated.
Herjólfur II
In June 1976 came to the island a new ferry that was owned by the limited company Herjólfur hf which has been established on the property and operation of a cargo ship between Iceland and the island. The ship was built in Kristiansund in Norway and was 1038 brl on size of the 2400 horsepower main engine of the Wichmann type. Herjólfur II was able to transport about 350 passengers per trip during the summer months and could carry almost 40 passenger cars on two car deck. The ships crusing speed was about 12.5 nautical miles per hours, so it took almost three and a half hours to sail to Þorlákshöfn. This was a major breakthrough from previous ships that had maintained voyages between Vestmannaeyjar and the country, as well as the ship being located in the Island and extending from there. This first Herjólfur as Herjólfur hf owned and operated, traveled to and from the Islands from July 1976 until June in 1992 or for almost 16 years and moved approximately this time 800.000 passengers and about 150.000 vehicles. The ship was eventually sold to Sweden and it was the Swedish army that bought it.
Herjólfur III
In June of 1992, the company´s other new construction came to the country. That ship was also called Herjólfur. The ferry was constructed in Flekkefjörd in Norway and has 2222 gross trains the size of 2 main Alphaman engines and a total of 7300 ha. The ship is 71 meters long and 16 meters wide and can carry up to 500 passengers in travel and about 55 cars. The ship usually sailed on a 16.5 nautical mile voyage and takes the voyage to Landeyjahöfn approximately 35 minutes but sailins to Þorlákshöfn approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. At the time Herhólfur hf owned this ferry, viz during the period 1992-2000, it moved approx. 750.000 passengers and about 200.000 vehicles. At the turn of the year 2000-2001 the company was sold to the State Treasure/Roas Administration and thus the story of the corporation Herjólfur was completed. From that time until January 1st in 2006 Samskip managed and operated Herjólfur, but after January 1st 2006 Eimskip operated Herjólfur until 29th of March 2019.
Herjólfur IV
Our current ferry was welcomed at a formal ceremony on June 15th 2019 when Prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir formally named the ferry Herjólfur IV. The ferry was constructed in Poland by shipbuilder Chris S.A. The ferry is electric and the company aims to do its best for the environment. The ferry is run by Herjólfur ofh that is a company owned by the town of Vestmannaeyjar. Herjólfur ohf considers itsel to be a service company, whose main goal is to serve the islanders as well as trying to introduce others to everthing the magnificent Vestmannaeyjar have to offer.
Herjólfur I
The first Herjólfur sailed daily between Vestmannaeyjar and Reykjavík and as well as once every two weeks to Hornafjörður. Over the summer the ferry also sails to Þorlákshöfn once a week. Herjólfur I arrived new to the country in December 1959 and was on these voyages until July 1974. This ferry was owned by the State Ship Company and the people of Vestmannaeyjar had little to say about how it was operated.
Herjólfur III
In June of 1992, the company´s other new construction came to the country. That ship was also called Herjólfur. The ferry was constructed in Flekkefjörd in Norway and has 2222 gross trains the size of 2 main Alphaman engines and a total of 7300 ha. The ship is 71 meters long and 16 meters wide and can carry up to 500 passengers in travel and about 55 cars. The ship usually sailed on a 16.5 nautical mile voyage and takes the voyage to Landeyjahöfn approximately 35 minutes but sailins to Þorlákshöfn approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. At the time Herhólfur hf owned this ferry, viz during the period 1992-2000, it moved approx. 750.000 passengers and about 200.000 vehicles. At the turn of the year 2000-2001 the company was sold to the State Treasure/Roas Administration and thus the story of the corporation Herjólfur was completed. From that time until January 1st in 2006 Samskip managed and operated Herjólfur, but after January 1st 2006 Eimskip operated Herjólfur until 29th of March 2019.
Herjólfur II
In June 1976 came to the island a new ferry that was owned by the limited company Herjólfur hf which has been established on the property and operation of a cargo ship between Iceland and the island. The ship was built in Kristiansund in Norway and was 1038 brl on size of the 2400 horsepower main engine of the Wichmann type. Herjólfur II was able to transport about 350 passengers per trip during the summer months and could carry almost 40 passenger cars on two car deck. The ships crusing speed was about 12.5 nautical miles per hours, so it took almost three and a half hours to sail to Þorlákshöfn. This was a major breakthrough from previous ships that had maintained voyages between Vestmannaeyjar and the country, as well as the ship being located in the Island and extending from there. This first Herjólfur as Herjólfur hf owned and operated, traveled to and from the Islands from July 1976 until June in 1992 or for almost 16 years and moved approximately this time 800.000 passengers and about 150.000 vehicles. The ship was eventually sold to Sweden and it was the Swedish army that bought it.
Herjólfur IV
Our current ferry was welcomed at a formal ceremony on June 15th 2019 when Prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir formally named the ferry Herjólfur IV. The ferry was constructed in Poland by shipbuilder Chris S.A. The ferry is electric and the company aims to do its best for the environment. The ferry is run by Herjólfur ofh that is a company owned by the town of Vestmannaeyjar. Herjólfur ohf considers itsel to be a service company, whose main goal is to serve the islanders as well as trying to introduce others to everthing the magnificent Vestmannaeyjar have to offer.
