Floating museum calls by Kirkwall

An exhibition is due to visit Kirkwall on Monday, on board a former fishing boat, which is now a floating museum.

The vessel, M/S Nybakk Venner, is due to call at Kirkwall as part of a wider trip which will see the Norwegian vessel visit ports in Orkney, Shetland, and the Isle of Man.

The project is named the Viking ‘Thing Trail 2014’, and is a modern take on the ‘Thing’ concept (the Norse word for ‘assembly’ or ‘parliament’) with the travelling exhibition bringing communities with a shared Nordic cultural heritage together.

The exhibition on board the boat, which will be docked at Kirkwall Harbour, is open to the public.

To coincide with the visit, a seminar is taking place at Orkney College this morning, which will include talks from Julie Gibson, Dr Alex Sanmark and Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon.

It is also planned that OIC convener Steven Heddle will exchange gifts with Mona Haughland, deputy county mayor of Hordaland, on behalf of Hordaland, Rogaland and Romsdal regions.