Frank Hermansen | Chief Engineer
A life at sea nearly didn't happen for Frank Hermansen, but with two older brothers, a sister and close friends encouraging him - he hasn't looked back since stepping onboard in 2002.
Destined to a life at sea
You may think it inevitable for Chief Engineer Frank Hermansen to join the Hurtigruten family as growing up in Northern Norway, he often saw the coast coastal ships sailing along the coastline. If that wasn’t enough, his two older brothers and sister spent time working in the galley and hotel departments on Hurtigruten ships. However, his passion for engineering was leading him towards aviation, but it was a childhood friend who encouraged him to follow his family to a life at sea.
After completing his training and apprenticeship, he followed in the footsteps of his brothers and sisters to join Hurtigruten in 2002. Quickly rising through the ranks, Frank became Chief Engineer in 2004, a role that has taken him from the Norwegian coastline to Antarctica. In May 2021, he joined the crew onboard MS Maud, leading the 16-strong team who have the responsibility of ensuring we voyage safely to remote and inspiring destinations.
He loves to return home to the Norwegian coastline, however, one of his favourite destinations is Greenland – the local Eskimos offer a friendly and warm welcome, that for Frank rivals the penguins of Antarctica. From the towering cliffs and grand fjords to rugged landscapes, Frank can’t wait to journey back to this beautiful part of the world onboard MS Maud.
MS Maud | Happy Ship
One of Frank's best parts of MS Maud is the crew, cooperation, and comradery! With a truly international team working across different sections of the ship, there is a special bond between departments that ensure everything runs smoothly above and below deck. Living by Frank's Motto of 'Happy ship is a healthy ship'.
FAQ | The Engine Room
As Chief Engineer, Frank is asked a lot of different questions by the crew on board - from what the symbol on his epaulets means "Be sure to ask him this one" to what is the temperature in the engine room. The temperature reflects the outside, in the summer it could reach up to 30oC and in the winter it could be -30oC.
Fun Fact | MS Maud
Originally built for the Norwegian Coast, MS Maud has a special propulsion system that is only found on one other ship within our fleet. This can help Maud reach a top speed of 80 knots (92mph) with a tailwind - although we rarely reach this fast, cruising around 18 knots.
