History of Svartlöga

The Beginning, 1964

The ship Svartlöga is today located at the quay in Ebeltoft Regatta Harbor. The ship is both a classic association ship and an exhibition platform for contemporary art. To read more about the exhibition platform, see OXER. As an association ship, Svartlöga today forms the framework for a community that works to restore the ship, sails and cultivates the classic maritime craft traditions. Anyone can join, see 'Become a member'.

The name ‘Svartlöga’ stems from a small island in the Stockholm archipelago. The island was inhabited by permanent residents until the 60’s and has since become a recreational area with cottages and the arrival of a ferry during the summer period. ‘OXER’, used as the title of the exhibition platform, refers to the ship's identification letters (like a number plate).

The history of M49 Svartlöga begins in the Swedish Navy. She was built at Karlskrona Naval Shipyard in 1964 and served as a miner during the Cold War.

She is one of seven sister ships built according to Danish cutter principles. The hull is solidly dimensioned pine frames up to 80 cm high down towards the keel, then cladding in oak inside 45 mm and outside 75 mm. The superstructures are, for good reasons, aluminum since the original status meant that there must be no magnetic impact due to the mines. The Oregon Pine deck, other details over the deck are oak and the rig is Douglas Gran. All fittings and metal details are hand-forged for the purpose. The ship measures 24 meters (length) and 6.5 meters (width) and amounts to 140 tons. In the late 80’s, the ship got a new engine, a Volvo Penta 380 hp from 1986.

A new start, 2005

In 2005, master carpenter and harbor contractor Henrik Grønborg bought the ship, renovated it to top quality and rigged it up with masts and sailing as Bermuda ketch rig.

For the next 14 years, a community grew around the ship. The voluntary association ‘Svartlögas Venner’ (‘Friends of Svartlöga’) was founded, and with Henrik at the helm, the association built, sailed and held cultural events on board, both in Aarhus Bay where it had its home, around the country and neighboring countries.

Back in 2015, Svartlöga towed Vibeke Nørgaard Rønsbo's 5 meter long bottled message out to sea to the exhibition Sculptures By The Sea, Aarhus. This was repeated at Floating Art in Vejle, and several places in Northern Jutland.

During Aarhus as Capital of Culture 2017, Svartlöga was a partner in relation to the grand opening ceremony with a thousand lantern ships. The ship was also a platform for musician Anohni's performance a few days later.

In addition, the ship has for a number of years been the main organizer of Wooden Island in Aarhus Bay, where ships were at anchor, moored together, like a floating wooden island. Here, poems, dance, art, music, and theater were performed through a day program. In addition, there have been many concerts on board and longer tournaments with bands, theater troupes and workshops such as; ‘Skvulp’, ‘Norden Fra’ and ‘Krulls sejlende grafik workshop’.




Long voyage and shipwreck, 2018

In the autumn of 2018, Svartlöga took off for a 15 months long voyage around the North Atlantic. Due to sudden, severe weather with headwinds, Svartlöga sank by the Dutch coast on 25 August. All of the 11 members on board helped each other in the life raft and the automatic safety equipment meant that 40 minutes later, there was an army of Dutch rescue vessels to help them ashore.

For several different reasons, after 7 days it was decided that the ship had to be raised from the 25 meters deep water. The ship was then declared completely wrecked financially and was immediately up for dismantling.

The association ‘Svartlögas Fremtid’ (‘The Future of Svartlöga’) was mobilized and took over the ownership. The large network around the ship backed up with donations and volunteer hours. The engine was renovated and the ship sailed home to Denmark in March 2019, now with home port in Ebeltoft Regatta Harbour.

In the publication ‘Svartlögas logbog 2018-2019, Fra havbund til grobund' (in Danish), you can read the details about the shipwreck and see examples of art that subsequently visualized and processed the dramatic trip. Contact us if you are interested in buying the book for DKK 200 or DKK 150 as a member.


Nov 2018 - 2023

At the same time as the ship returned to Denmark, visions were written in a more serious contemporary art direction and questions were asked among the members such as; “How to challenge the use of a ship and the maritime traditional conditions; how can a ship become an active participant in the professional contemporary art scene? ”

Dina Lundvall Nielsen (visual artist) and Sara Kirstine Grønborg (visual artist and carpenter) started OXER - an artist-run exhibition platform on board that works alongside the association ship.

During the first period as an art platform, the ship has welcomed many different works that thematize, among other things, the shipwreck in 2018 but most importantly challenge and investigate the use of a ship as an exhibition space.

The ship still bears clear marks of the time underwater today, and the association is working hard to realize a thorough restoration and there is still a great need for support. At present, the association consists of about 50 members, who arrange work weekends, boat trips and fun. Everyone is welcome to join!