SV Noorderlicht

The 1991-built SV Noorderlicht cruise ship is a two-masted schooner (tall sailing ship) and part of the Oceanwide Expeditions fleet, together with Janssonius (2022), Hondius (2019), Ortelius (1989), Plancius (1976), and the polar sailing ship Rembrandt van Rijn (1994). "Noorderlicht" in Norwegian means "Northern Light."

The vessel (IMO number 8650813) is currently Netherlands-flagged (MMSI 244091000) and registered in Rotterdam.

The vessel was originally constructed in 1910 for the Imperial German Navy. Since the 1990s, Noorderlicht has operated as an expedition cruise vessel sailing to remote Arctic destinations, particularly Norway's Svalbard Islands.

Noorderlicht's cruise schedule is based on the homeport Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen, Arctic Norway), with itineraries around the archipelago, the Lofoten Islands, and other mainland destinations within the polar region. A total of 10 cabins accommodate up to 20 guests. Two rigid-hulled inflatable boats are used for landings and wildlife viewing in areas inaccessible to the ship.

During winter, SV Noorderlicht is intentionally frozen into Svalbard's Tempelfjorden to serve as a base-camp accommodation for Arctic expeditions.

History - construction and ownership

Specializing in passenger shipping and navigation in icy waters, Oceanwide Expeditions has expanded both its fleet capacity and brand reputation with newbuilds such as Janssonius and Hondius. The company is headquartered in Vlissingen Netherlands.

Founded in 1993, Oceanwide Expeditions is one of the industry's small cruise lines, offering regularly scheduled and flexible polar expedition cruises. These voyages provide opportunities to observe Arctic and Antarctic wildlife, explore unique landscapes, and visit historically significant polar sites. The company operates year-round itineraries—Arctic voyages during summer (April through September) and Antarctic expeditions during winter (October through March). Most itineraries visit remote, sea-accessible locations without port infrastructure. In such cases, the ship anchors offshore and passengers are transferred ashore via Zodiac boats, guided by an experienced expedition team.

Oceanwide Expeditions supports several prominent organizations dedicated to wildlife conservation and sustainable environmental development in polar regions, including AECO (Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators), IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators), and BirdLife International.

Originally, the ship was named "FS Kalkgrund II." Her original design was a rigged three-masted schooner. She served as a Feuerschiff (light vessel) on the Kalkgrund station in the Baltic Sea (off the Flensburg Fjord) and also functioned as a pilot station and weather ship.

During World War II (1939–1945), while in service with the Kriegsmarine under the name "Flensburg," the vessel’s middle mast was removed to improve stability, and an anti-aircraft gun was installed. She continued in lightship service until 1963, when she was retired following the commissioning of a new lighthouse.

Between 1963 and 1992, SV Noorderlicht had several owners and was used as a workers' hostel. From 1967 to 1986, she served as a clubhouse for the sailing association Moltenorter Seglerkameradschaft in Heikendorf (Schleswig-Holstein, Germany), before being sold to the Netherlands. In 1991, the vessel was found in Leeuwarden (Netherlands) by her current owners, Gert Ritzema and Ted van Broeckhuysen. They restored, re-rigged, and equipped her with an auxiliary diesel engine. After being renamed "SV Noorderlicht," she entered service as an adventure expedition cruise ship.

Since 2011, Noorderlicht has been exclusively chartered by Oceanwide Expeditions.