A pilot-boy from the age of nine

Thor Andersen Ula (1843 – 1920)

Thor Andersen was the son of the famous Norwegian pilot Ulabrand. And he started to accompany his father in the pilot-boat from the age of nine. His duty was either to follow the ship to port, or to bring the boat safely back home after the father had entered the pilot-seeking ship.

On his first job, Thor’s father entered a Dutch ship headed for Fredrikstad on the opposite side of the Oslo Fjord, and he was told to follow.

But the Dutchman sailed too fast, and Thor was left behind. Still, he managed to find his way safely on his own, and finally reached Fredrikstad. Here he was met by a proud father, and the Dutch captain, who was so impressed by the little boy that he insisted on paying him for his effort.

Ula, where Thor Andersen grew up, was a well-known pilot-station on the south-eastern coast of Norway. There was only a short distance between the houses in the small harbour and the lookout where the pilots kept watch for incoming ships. It was important to spot the ships as early as possible since the different pilots were competing to board the ships first and win the commissions.

At the age of 23, Thor passed the exam and became a certified pilot. He married Kristine with whom he had six children. Two of the boys became pilots, but his youngest son drowned at the age of thirteen.

In several ways, Thor was his father’s opposite. The famous “Ulabrand” was known as a boasting, loudmouthed man, who often got into quarrels and fights when he visited local taverns on his way back home from his commissions. Thor, on the other hand, was silent and more withdrawn. But he was active in the Pilot-union, fighting for the welfare of his colleagues.

In his time, most pilots owned their own boats, and Thor’s boats were known to be of the best.

His last boat was the pilot cutter (smack) “Fritjof II” which he used until 1905 when his eyesight failed him, and he had to retire.

Thor Andersen UIa died in 1920, but still, more than a hundred years later, his pilot-boat “Fritjof II” is still under Sail, now as a protected museum ship.