Bratteklev shipyard

Bratteklev skipsverft is an old shipyard made to a museum.

Arendal has a long and proud history of shipbuilding, and this yard is wel preserved and worth a visit if you are interested in shipbuilding in the 19th century.

Now it has become possible to visit Bratteklev shipyard!

The protected properties at Bratteklev are an important part of the maritime cultural heritage in the Arendal area. The shipyard is the best-preserved shipyard from the woodenship era along the Skagerrak coast, and the facility represents both the type of technical / industrial activity and combination operation that was common in southern Norway.

Sønnavind Drone and Boligfoto have made a small film showing the shipyard on a sunny summer day: Bratteklev shipyard

FARMING AND FISHING
Originally, Bratteklev was a farm where people were fed by farming and fishing. In 1865, Ole Bertinius Sørensen bought the farm with the intention of using it as a base for shipping operations and establishing a shipyard. Two years later he started the construction of the first sailing ship - the barque "Ilma" of 465 tonnes. In 1870, this sailing ship sailed out of the yard.

CULTURAL HERITAGE
Birger F. Smith-Sørensen took over as general manager of the family shipping company in 1959. After the shipping operations were discontinued, he worked actively to preserve the cultural heritage of Bratteklev. For this work he received the Maihaug Prize in 1994, in 2005 the King's Merit Medal in Gold and in 2013 the County Culture Award.

SHIPPING COMPANY
The shipping company O. B. Sørensen & Co. was founded as early as 1863. O.B. Sørensen switched to steamships early, and in 1875 he bought the first steamship. He reached the top as a shipowner in 1885. At that time he owned and disposed of a total of 26 sailing vessels and steamships. At that time he had as many as 500 employees on board the ships and on land. Over a long life, he bought, built and acquired parties in more than 50 ships.

SHIPYARD
At Bratteklev shipyard, 14 ships were built in the period from 1867 to 1924. Of these, eight are sailboats in wood, two smaller whaling vessels in steel, three steam-powered ships in wood and one small diesel-powered ship in wood. From 1924 until World War II, ships were equipped and repairs carried out at the yard. In recent times, up to 2002, ships have been in storage in Bratteklev. The time in storage has been used for maintenance work.

Søren Hans Smith Sørensen, son of O. B. Sørensen, took over the shipyard and shipping operations after his father's death in 1916. The company was active until 1984  Rarely was something thrown away in Bratteklev and equipment and objects were taken ashore from sailboats, steam and motor ships. In the 1960s, Søren Hans Smith Sørensen understood the great cultural value these objects represented, and he began to painstakingly assemble and sort object by object.

PRICES / GUIDED TOURS
Prices apply for guided tours of Bratteklev shipyard, recommended time 60-90 minutes. The buildings are only open to visitors with a guide from the foundation. The guide will tell the story of the place, provide information about the crafts associated with shipbuilding and how a mixed economy was common in shipyards from that time.

Weekdays, during business hours
Adults: 100 NOK per person
Students: 50 NOKper person
Children 0-15 years: Free

The ticket price includes a tour of groups of a minimum of 10 people.