Óðinn Coast Guard Vessel

The Coast Guard Vessel Óðinn is as one of the Maritime Museum’s main exhibitions. We offer three guided tours daily on board the ship at 13:00, 14:00 & 15:00 from March to November.

During the guided tour, visitors will learn about Óðinn's history and life on board and the important role it had as a former Coast Guard Vessel. The guided tour takes about 45-60 minutes. You are about to board a ship which was designed for special duties at sea.

• Please note that in some places, there are high thresholds and fixtures/irregularities in the flooring.
• In some places, the ceiling is low, and there are sharp corners
• Stairs/ladders are steep
• The visit is not recommended for people who suffer from claustrophobia or fear of heights or are disabled in any way.
• Parents/guardians are responsible for the conduct and safety of children; they must be under supervision.
• An adult must always accompany children under the age of 12.
• The decks can be slippery in wet weather, and if there's bad weather, the ship is closed.

The history of Coast Guard Vessel Óðinn

The Coast Guard Vessel Óðinn was built in Aalborg, Denmark, in 1959. It has a displacement of 910 tons, a length of 63 m, a beam of 10 m and a specially reinforced bow and hull for sailing through ice. Two main engines delivered a cruising speed of 18 knots. Navigation and telecommunication equipment were always state-of-the-art. The winch had a 20-ton bollard pull and a 3-km-long towline.

Óðinn took part in all three Cod Wars. Its most powerful weapon was a 57 mm cannon located on the bow. The most effective and famous weapon in the Cod Wars was the trawl warp cutter, displayed on the afterdeck. Óðinn proved a particularly good rescue vessel. It towed about 200 ships to land or safe shelter that had broken down, had fishing gear tangled in the propeller, or had caught fire. On 14 other occasions, Óðinn pulled cargo ships or fishing vessels that had run aground. Moreover, it rescued the crews of three vessels that had been stranded and twice saved the crews of sinking ships.

Óðinn patrolled Iceland's territorial fishing grounds, monitoring Icelandic and foreign vessels. This involved determining who was fishing and where and the type of fishing equipment being used. Óðinn was often called on for assistance when weather conditions made transportation on land extremely difficult, particularly in remote communities. The helicopter was used when time was a factor in rescue missions and medical emergencies.