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This
year is the 60th anniversary since the end of the second world war.
The participation by the Faroe Islands, its seamen and fishing
vessels, is well known. The Faroese fishing vessels, including the
many smacks such as the above vessel, carried fish from the Faroe
Islands and Iceland (their own catches or fish from other local
fishing vessels) to Scotland and England all the war years. The
weekly landings throughout the war years were approx. 8,000 cwts.
equivalent to 1.3 million fish suppers. This effort by the
Faroese fishing vessels did not go unnoticed by your Prime Minister
Winston Churchill, who is reported as having stated, "that what
that small nation has done in supplying the British housewife with
fish for her larder, would never be forgotten".
Now
that 60 years have passed since the end of the second world war, it
has been decided, in order to commemorate what our fishing vessels
did during the war, that the "JOHANNA" TG 326, will make a
trip to Nordfjord in Iceland to purchase 1 tonne of fish and then
make the voyage from Nordfjord direct to Aberdeen in Scotland, where
the fish will be sold. This historic voyage will be made in memory
of the participation by the Faroese in the second world war and in
memory of those who gave their lives during the second world war.
Our losses were great, we lost a third of our fishing fleet and more
men per capita than the UK.
"JOHANNA"
TG 326 will have a compliment of 20 persons, including crew and
media people. The media people will include Faroese TV personnel and
an Icelandic photographer and a cameraman. The Icelanders will be
arriving at Vagur in the South Island late in May to take pictures
and films and will be joining the "JOHANNA" TG 326 on her
departure for Iceland on the 2nd of June and will remain on board
during all her voyages.
Informative
letters in connection with the above mentioned voyages will be sent
sent to the media in Iceland and Scotland (in Scotland Mr Sofus
Poulsen, former Faroe Islands Representative in the UK, will take
care of the communication). The Faroe Islands Office was located at
150 Market Street, Aberdeen, all the 54 years Mr Poulsen was there.
The
"JOHANNA"s skipper on this historic voyage will be
Hans J. Joensen, from Vágur, who is the grandson of Jakke i Lid,
who was one of the skippers, who was in command of the "JOHANNA"
TG 326 during the second world war.
In
Aberdeen the "JOHANNA"s agents will be the same as the one
she had during the second world war, namely The Don Fishing Co. Ltd.
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The itinerary
is:
Departure from Vagur Thursday 2nd June (dependant on weather conditions).
Arrival at Nordfjord early Sunday morning 5th June.
This is the Seamens Day celebration at Nordfjord. The "JOHANNA" will be open to the public this day and
refreshments will be served on board.
There will also be a photo/picture exhibition on board. The Mayor of Nordfjord has been informed of the "JOHANNA" TG 326 arrival there and he is
looking forward to her visit.
The departure from Nordfjord will be on Monday 6th June.
The "JOHANNA" will be buying 1 tonne of fish, which will be carried to Aberdeen, where it will be sold.
Arrival at Aberdeen Saturday 11th June.
Where Aberdeen Harbour Board have kindly granted the "JOHANNA" a berth in the Upper Dock near the North Link Ferry Terminal.
The fish which is bought in Iceland will be landed in Aberdeen.
In all of Great Britain much is done to commemorate the VE (Victory in Europe) and VJ (Victory in Japan) days, respectively 8th May and 15th August, the days when the second world war ended in Europe and Japan. Great celebrations will be arranged in nearly all towns and cities in Great Britain and also in Aberdeen, where a "World War II Veterans Parade" will be held on the 11th June, which is the Saturday when the "JOHANNA" TG 326 will be arriving in Aberdeen. In this connection there is a large programme of activities arranged for this weekend and many visitors are expected to visit on board the "JOHANNA" that Saturday and Sunday. On board will be, as in Iceland, refreshments served and there will also be an exhibition of photos/pictures relative to the vessel.
Departure from Aberdeen Tuesday 14th June.
Arrival Vagur Thursday 16th June.
When the "JOHANNA" TG 326 arrives at Vagur, there will be remembrance celebrations in
Vagur.
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