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Norway

Princess Ingrid Alexandra baptises new research vessel

On Saturday, Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway baptised the new research vessel “Crown Prince Haakon” in the northern city of Tromsø. Princess Ingrid Alexandra will also be the godmother of the brand new Norwegian research ship. During the ceremony, the Princess was accompanied by her father, Crown Prince Haakon, who had the ship named after him. Also, several guests from the Norwegian defence, parliament, government and prominent researches were present.

When Princess Ingrid Alexandra baptised the ship, the traditional champagne bottle was replaced by a big block of Norwegian polar ice. That was how Roald Amundsen christened the ship “Maud “, which was Norway’s last special-purpose research vessel, in 1917, and named after Queen Maud. Queen Maud was Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s great-grandmother.

The Princess with her father and mother earlier this year. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.

Her Royal Highness said in her speech: “”I give you the name “Crown Prince Haakon”. Must good luck follow you, your crew and everyone on board your missions in to the north and south”.

This was not be the first time that Princess Ingrid Alexandra has baptised a ship. In 2015, she was godmother of the rescue boat “Elias”. To Norwegian press following the ceremony the Princess said: “I am very interested in the sea and climate change. That was an important reason why I would like to baptise the ship”.

Following the ceremony, the Princess went together with her father to a reasrch facility and a short seminar regarding the polar-region. There was also time to a short tour to the adventure centre at Polaria aquarium. The centre provides research-based knowledge about the Arctic-region.

“Crown Prince Haakon” is Norway’s new flagship in polar research vessel; it has cost 1.4 billion NOK to build and has Tromsø as a home port. The in-depth research vessel has become one of the world’s most advanced ships, with both a helicopter hanger and remote controlled submarine as part of the standard equipment. The ship has room for 35 researchers, which can work in twelve different laboratories throughout the year. Already, the ship has been on its first trip, in the sea between Svalbard and Greenland.

About author

Senior Europe Correspondent Oskar Aanmoen has a master in military and political history of the Nordic countries. He has written six books on historical subjects and more than 1.500 articles for Royal Central. He has also interview both Serbian and Norwegian royals. Aanmoen is based in Oslo, Norway.