Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, sister of King Harald of Norway, usually spends her summer holidays at her vacation house in the small Norwegian town of Hankø. The Princess is spending time there this summer as well. However this week she interrupted her holiday for a special surprise visit.
The Royal Court has published some photos of the Princess while she was visiting the Norwegian Rescue Company. Princess Astrid made an unannounced visit to the cabin of the crew of the lifeboat that bears the name, Princess Ragnhild, in honour of her older sister. Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner was given a tour of the state-of-the-art lifeboat and heard from the crew about how this year’s summer has been so far.
In 2019 it was Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner who represented the Royal Family when the newest rescue ship in Norway was baptised at the Norwegian Maritime Museum. The ship was named “Princess Ragnhild” in honour of Astrid and Harald’s big sister. Princess Ragnhild died in 2012.
“Princess Ragnhild” was the Rescue Company’s 170th ship since the Norwegian Society of Rescue was founded in 1891. The ship has a top speed of 45 knots and is manned by a crew of three from the Marine Rescue Corps. The ship was purchased thanks to a large donation by Erling Lorentzen who was married to Princess Ragnhild. The Norwegian Royal Family has supported the Rescue Company’s work ever since His Majesty King Oscar II personally donated 1, 000 crowns to the foundation in 1891.
The Norwegian Rescue Company is a humanitarian organization whose purpose is to save lives at sea, save and protect values at sea and conduct preventive work to improve the safety of those who travel at sea. The organization’s vision is that no one should drown.
