Ferry operator · Norway
Sundbåten
- Routes
- 10
- Terminals
- 6
- Regions
- 1
- Avg crossing
- 6 min
Authority and ship operator
Kristiansund Kommunale Sundbåtvesen describes itself as the world's oldest public transport company in continuous operation, running since 1876. It is free to ride, it links the four islands the town is built on, and in 1997 the townspeople formally chose it as their cultural heritage.
Official site: www.sundbaten.no — always confirm the current timetable there before travelling.
Timetables
Routes operated by Sundbåten
Showing the 1 most-searched of the 10 routes Sundbåten runs.
| Route | Crossing | Sailings/day | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkelandet → Innlandet | 4 min | — | Møre og Romsdal |
Running since 1876, and free to everyone
Sundbåten has carried people across Kristiansund's harbour since 1876, which it claims makes it the world's oldest public transport company in continuous operation. The service runs to timetable every weekday between the four "lands" the town occupies — and it costs nothing. Not a subsidised fare or a free zone: "Med oss reiser du alltid gratis", always free.
In 1997 the inhabitants of Kristiansund chose Sundbåten as their cultural heritage monument, which is an unusual status for a working transport service. It is treated as part of the town's identity rather than as infrastructure that happens to be old.
Five boats, and each has a different job
- MS Angvik (2005) is the backbone of the scheduled service — 15.6 metres, 63 passengers, 7 knots, built at SSR Gryfia in Szczecin. It works up to 17 hours a day, six days a week, and carries AV equipment, a galley and a sun deck for meetings and events.
- MS Framnæs (2012) is a replica of the ferry that served as a sundbåt from 1916 to 1951, with oak and teak benches and a wooden main deck. It carries 47 and runs both a Volvo Penta diesel and a steam engine. Owned by Stiftelsen Framnæs and operated by Sundbåtvesenet, it works as reserve boat and for tours.
- MS Rapp (1958) ran in scheduled traffic for 56 years, from 1958 to 2014, and is now preserved as a cultural monument.
- MS Nordsund was out of the company for 18 years, has been bought back, and is being refurbished.
- MS Kvikk (48 passengers, with a simple café) works the Grip route.
Grip: a fishing village 15 kilometres out in the open sea
Beyond the harbour crossings, Sundbåtvesenet serves Grip, the former fishing village that is now Kristiansund's outer district. Departures run from the town centre May to September, and the crossing takes about 35 minutes each way.
The village sits 15 kilometres out in the open sea, and the standard visit is a 3.5-hour round trip with time to walk around alone or join a guided walk that includes Grip stave church. Tickets are bought on board or online, and MS Kvikk can also be chartered.
What else the boats do
The same vessels run harbour sightseeing with a storyteller, island-hopping trips around the town's four islands with or without a guide, and meetings or lunches aboard MS Angvik. There is also a Sundbåtsafari — a booklet of questions about each island and about the boats themselves, kept on board for passengers.
The network
Where Sundbåten sails
Explore
Regions Sundbåten serves
Paying aboard
Fares with Sundbåten
Driving with Sundbåten? Its road-ferry fares use AutoPASS for Ferries — vehicles are billed automatically by length and foot passengers usually travel free. There is normally no ticket to buy in advance.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sundbåten free?
Yes, always. Sundbåten states plainly that travel with them is free of charge, on the scheduled weekday service linking the four islands Kristiansund is built on.
How old is the Sundbåten service?
It has run since 1876 and describes itself as the world's oldest public transport company in continuous operation. In 1997 Kristiansund's inhabitants chose it as their cultural heritage monument.
How do I get to Grip?
On the Grip route from Kristiansund town centre, running May to September, with a crossing of about 35 minutes each way. The usual visit is a 3.5-hour round trip including time ashore, and MS Kvikk works this route.
What is there to see on Grip?
The historic village sits 15 kilometres out in the open sea. Visitors can walk around independently or join a guided walk that includes Grip stave church, and there is a café ashore.
Which boat has a steam engine?
MS Framnæs, built in 2012 as a replica of the ferry that served as a sundbåt from 1916 to 1951. It carries both a Volvo Penta diesel and a steam engine, with oak and teak benches and a wooden main deck.
Can I hire a Sundbåt for an event?
Yes. MS Angvik carries AV equipment, a galley and a sun deck and is used for meetings and lunches; MS Kvikk can be chartered for trips to Grip. Harbour sightseeing with a storyteller and guided island-hopping are also offered.