25/06/2023, at anchor, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Spitsbergen, Norway.

The former Sjöfartsverkets (Swedish Maritime Administration) buoy/lighthouse tender 'Fyrbyggaren', which was converted in 2021 to a passenger 'expedition' vessel for use in the Arctic region.

Owned and operated by Virgo Rederiaktiebolaget of Partille, Sweden.

Built in 1976, and commissioned on 14/12/1976 by Sigbjørn Iversen Mekaniske Verksted AS, Flekkefjord , Norway (40)
655 g.t. & zero dwt.
Length x breadth x depth =
41,81m x 10,19m x 3,98m., as
'Fyrbyggaren' to 2021, and
'Virgo' since.

**16/06/2022, vessel ran aground in Fuglefjorden, north-western Spitzbergen, Svalbard, Norwegian archipelago between Norway and North Pole, Arctic, at around 10:00 UTC on June 14th.
There were 13 passengers and seven crew on board.
The ship’s hull was reported as breached in the area of its fuel tank and an oil leak was reported.
As of 15:00 UTC June 14th the vessel appeared to have been refloated and to be manoeuvring at very slow speed near the grounding site, with a tug and auxiliary vessel nearby.
Subsequently repaired and returned to service.**

Photo with the kind permission of Ovanes Agaryan.