The history:
1905-1914 Brandenburg AE87 Emden
Nortun was launched in April 1905 at the Nordseewerke in Emden, and was named Brandenburg. The order came from Grosser Kurfürst Heringfischerei. The fishery number AE 87 referred to the area Aurich/ Emden. The vessel was crewed by 14 men, and was only driven by sail. Fishing was done by the use of driftnets. The herring was put on salt and the trips
at sea could last up to five weeks before returning to port. Brandenburg and her crew went through some rough experiences. The log cites two dramatic cases of going aground, and one case of a deserting crewmember. In 1908, the log speaks of a deserting crewmember. The crew was signed on as a reepschläger. In November 1911, the vessel was abandoned by the crew just outside Blåvand lighthouse, and later stranded there. In November 1912 Brandenburg returned after the loss of all nets, and stranded at the Knock, by the river Ems. Two tugboats had to tow her off. Brandenburg was confiscated in 1914 (WW1) by the English navy in the North Sea, and later sold at an auction in London to Holland.
1915-1923 De Noord VL54, Vlaardingen
Renamed De Noord by the new owners in Vlaardingen, Netherlands. The ship continued with herring fishing under sail.
1924-1934 Willemina KW 1, Katwijk
Sold to new owners in Katwijk, Netherlands. Renamed to Willemina. The ship remains unchanged, still sailing and fishing herring with drift nets.
1934-1943 Fænø, Middelfart
In 1934 the ship was yet again sold, this time to Denmark and renamed Fænø. The owner converted her as a freighter and installed her first engine and a small wheelhouse. The diesel engine had 94 HP. The owners kept the rigging and sails. In 1943 a new 3 cylinder Alpha diesel of 150 HP was installed.
1945-1954 Turø, Svendborg
Fænø was in 1945 sold to Thurø where it got the name Turø of Svendborg. The rigging was kept to get a cheaper Insurance. Turø sailed with cargo to East Germany, West Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The crew was reduced to four men. In 1949, the wheelhouse was replaced and the ship got a new Engine, a 4 cylinder Alpha Diesel at 180-220 hp. The vessel reached a speed of 12 knots on trial run.
1954-1998 Nortun, Kopervik
In 1954 Turø was sold to Sven A Ytreland and Harald Olsen from Kopervik, Norway. Not long after it came to Norway the ship was completely rebuild with a new casing with boat deck and new wheelhouse. The rig was removed and replaced with a more convenient loading arrangement and a large cargo hatch. Initially there was a crew of four men, but were later reduced to three and occasionally two.
1954 Fisheries Code R-2-SL
Nortun shipped herring in winter and other goods out of the season. In the early sixties Harald's sons Andreas and John Ytreland bought out his uncle Sven and both came to sail with his father. Andreas was the skipper of Nortun the last thirty years the family-owned ship.
1964 Fisheries Code R-548-K
In 1976 the engine was replaced with a Detroit 260 hp V8. In 1997 Nortun was laid up at Ytraland and put up for sale in 1998.
1998- 2004 Nortun, Kopervik
Nortun where bought by the present owner in 1998 and the purpose of the ship was now going to be a privately owned yacht. The initial years the ship was restored as cargo ship but in 2002 the conversion back to a sailing ship started.
2004-present. Nortun AE87, Stavanger
In 2004 Nortun changed port to Stavanger. Now as a private sailing yacht by the same owner.
