MS Castor

MS Castor was built in Esbjerg in 1936 and served as a fishing boat in the North Sea until the mid-1950s. In the 1960s, the ship was converted and refitted as a school ship for young offenders. Later, Castor began sailing with tourists, locals, and charter guests on voyages in the Kattegat and Little Belt.

In 1996, the ship was purchased by a group of citizens in Bogense and was given a berth in the old harbor. In 2014, Castor transitioned from being a limited company to becoming the Self-Governing Institution Castor of Bogense. The ship is 52 feet long, 16 feet wide, weighs 40 tons, and has a draft of 3 meters.

Castor caught fire in 2018

In September 2018, Castor caught fire in Bogense Old Harbor. The ship was docked when the skipper noticed smoke coming from the engine room. The alarm was raised, people gathered, and the sky was covered in thick black smoke... The firefighters quickly got the fire under control, but unfortunately, the damage was worse than initially thought. The wooden ship was declared a total loss and required rebuilding. Not only did the hull burn, but the fire also spread to the wires and hoses.

Castor went to the shipyard for repairs, but it took 2 years before the ship was seaworthy again.

Castor comes ashore

The last season in which MS Castor sailed with passengers was 2023.

MS Castor no longer sails. She requires too many repairs to make it possible to get her back on the water.

In March 2024, the ship was sold to the local businessman from Bogense, Finn Gramvad, who plans to place the ship on land as a landmark on Vestre Havnevej by Bogense Old Harbor.

On September 2 and 3, 2024, the ship will be moved by crane to its new spot next to the cultural center Støberiet at Vestre Havnevej 1. The ship has been towed into the harbor basin in front of Støberiet.

Denmark's largest mobile crane from BMS will be responsible for lifting the ship from the harbor basin to its new location on land.

First, divers will attach straps to the ship, and then it can be lifted. The process itself will take a long time.

It is planned that the ship will be lifted by crane into the dry dock on Monday, September 2nd at 4:00 PM.

Vestre Havnevej will be closed to cars, cyclists, and pedestrians from Monday morning at 10 AM until Tuesday noon at 1 PM. It is possible to park at Bogense Marina in the large parking lot on Marinavej and then walk to Vestre Havnevej just on the other side of Bogense Marina.