‘MS Hamen’ is a Norwegian ship laying on the Swedish side of a fjord between the two countries. It is a historic vessel built as a steam powered vessel in 1949 in UK originally named ‘SS Pompey Power’. It was then owned by the British Electricity Authority in London. In 1960 it was sold to Rederi A/S Orion in Drammen (Norway) and renamed ‘Tandik’.

It is the only one left of its kind that was a common cargo ship in the years after the war traveling the north European waters. In 1963 it was fitted with a 9 cylinder diesel motor engine and renamed ‘Hamen’. It has status as listed and many historians hope it will be saved and restored. The ship was decommissioned in 1986. The Swedish government has wanted it removed for years, but nothing has happened. Oil leaks and other hazards makes the neighbors angry. Last year the ship almost sank and laid very low in the water. On the first picture you can see the brown parts on the back which was under water. Divers came and welded the hull and managed to raise her again.

I’d wanted to see the inside of this vessel for a long time and with the help of two experienced climbers we managed to get on board. It was an awesome day. The inside was far better than I expected, even if the rooms where tiny and difficult to shoot. The decay was perfect and there were lots of old stuff laying everywhere. Since the ship is so difficult to get access to, there was no vandalizing and graffiti anywhere as far as I could see. We spent around five hours on the ship and went happy home afterwards.

Some of the pictures are tilted. Since the vessel itself laid with an angle in the water, I couldn’t agree with myself if I should take the pictures in the natural tilt the ship had, or straight it up (angle my camera) to get a cleaner shot.

Since the ship was supposed to be moved many years ago, it’s difficult to say when it would happen. Probably very soon. I’m glad I was on board taking pictures of this historic ship. When they chop it to pieces (which they probably will since restore it seems like a really big undertaking), my pictures might be the some of a very small collection of people who have documented the inside.

The ghost ship from the outside.

Finally on board.

Standing in the front looking towards the bridge and the back of the old freight vessel.

On the rusty deck looking forward.

Close up on the old wheels that once moved the large covers over the forward cargo hull.

Entering the very decayed bridge.

Where the captain once stood.

Close up on the vessel controls.

Buttons.

Standing in the back of the bridge room looking forward.

To the right was the wooden medical cabinet.

Empty boxes that once had medical supplies.

“Legebok for sjøfolk”, or in English: “Medical Dictionary for sailors”.

Communication and map room.

Communication device in great shape in contrast to the rest of the ship.

Old derelict stuff on the wall.

Alarm button.

Bridge details.

View from bridge level port side.

View from starboard side.

“Haugesund”

Stair from bridge deck (top) to the deck below.

This deck contained a living area with dinner table to the left, and the captain’s cabin just below the bridge.

From captains dinner/living room.

Captains cabin.

Another view from captains cabin. He had his own office (straight ahead), toilet and a small hallway.

Captains office with lots of papers, books and newspapers.

Old newspaper – Bergens Tidene from January 1987.

A book from 1973.

Some freight orders I suppose.

There was a few more cabin on the deck below the captain’s cabin. This one…

… and this one.

Down in the cargo hull. Amazing room actually. Full of rust and nice light coming from a partly open cargo hull hatch.

Two winches at the back of the ship.

Chimney and a very rusty stair.

At the rear end of the ship looking forward. Plants and vegetation was growing on the side.

The galley at the back.

The corridor below was pitch black and the only light came from these openings in the ceiling on top of the stairs.

One of the cabins in the aft section.

A small library or day room. The yellow box was full of books.

Another room from the back. Nice tiles.

And finally, the engine room with the 9 cylinder diesel motor.