Skibladner


PS Skibladner is the only paddle steamer operating in Norway, it sails on lake Mjøsa.
Skibladner is a sidewheel design, and her maiden voyage was on 2 August 1856, making her the world's oldest paddle steamer still in timetabled service. Originally intended to provide passage from the train station in Eidsvoll to the towns of Hamar, Gjøvik, and Lillehammer along Mjøsa, she still operates the same route, but now offers scenic tours and cultural events during the summer months.
The ship sank while in winter storage twice: once in 1937 and again in 1967. After each sinking she was raised and underwent significant renovation.
The ship is often referred to locally as Mjøsas Hvite Svane, which translates to The White Swan of Mjøsa.
The ship's home port is Gjøvik, where it also overwinters in a specially constructed glass-covered structure.
On 14 June 2005, the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage made Skibladner subject to a preservation order. This was the first time in Norway that an operating vehicle was listed.
The steamer is named after Skíðblaðnir, the ship of Freyr in Norse mythology.