MS Midnatsol

MS Midnatsol is a Norwegian-registered coastal cruise ship that has served the Bergen–Kirkenes route for Hurtigruten since its delivery in 2003 and currently operates as part of Hurtigruten Norge. The ship was built at Fosen Mekaniske Verksted in Rissa and was christened by Rut Brandt, widow of former West German Chancellor Willy Brandt. In December 2003, the vessel experienced a critical incident when its main power supply failed during severe weather between Ålesund and Måløy, causing it to drift toward an underwater reef before anchors finally held just 150 meters from land. The ship later served as the principal subject of the NRK television series Hurtigruten 365 and spent winters from 2016 to 2020 operating as an expedition vessel to Antarctica.