History

The passenger boat "Korshage" at Kulkajen in Hundested - origin of the motive unknown.

It was 18 meters long, 4.5 meters wide, and equipped with a 40 HP engine. It could accommodate 140 passengers and had space for some luggage and bicycles. The boat was put into service during the summer months, and the sailing schedule was coordinated with the arrival and departure times of the train in Hundested. The new boat connection quickly became a success, but soon another new mode of transportation, in increasing numbers, emerged for which the ferry service was not prepared: the automobile. Already in 1922, negotiations were underway with motoring organizations regarding the introduction of a car ferry. However, this was considered somewhat costly, given the need to establish both ferry terminals and car ramps in both ports. But after a competing ferry company, using an older converted cargo boat called "Rigsø," which had been adapted to carry 8-9 cars on its deck, also operated on the crossing in 1927, the Nielsen brothers were forced to act quickly.

The crossing couldn't possibly support traffic for two competing routes, so after lengthy negotiations with the authorities in the two ports regarding the right to operate the service, the new company withdrew from the route in exchange for financial compensation. The Nielsen brothers then entered into exclusive agreements for the navigation of the Rørvig and Hundested ports and established the joint-stock company Korshage in 1928. Immediately, they ordered a new ferry, a combined passenger and car ferry, from Frederikshavn Shipyard. At the same time, efforts began to establish car ferry terminals in the two ports. On May 16, 1928, the new ferry was put into service on the route, and it inherited the name "Korshage."

M/F "Korshage" arrives at Hundested Harbor. Motive - postcard from C. Jensen's Bookstore in Hundested.

It was a motor ferry of 105 gross tons, equipped with a newly developed 150 horsepower B.& W. engine, capable of propelling the ferry at a speed of 9 knots. It was a so-called pendulum ferry, meaning it had a propeller and rudder at both ends, allowing it to avoid turning the ferry in and out of the harbor. It had a continuous car deck with space for approximately 15 passenger cars and up to 190 passengers. Even during World War II, the ferry route was considered so essential for transportation that it was kept operational by being allocated a, albeit limited, ration of diesel oil, allowing it to make a couple of double trips a day. After the war, car traffic quickly picked up again, so from the early 1950s for several years, the ferry company chartered an additional small ferry, "Koster," to assist during the busiest times, enabling them to operate with two ferries during the peak season. However, in 1959, the company introduced a new ferry, "Skansehage," built at Holbæk Shipyard, so they now had two ferries of their own. The new ferry was slightly larger than "Korshage" but also had space for 14-15 cars and permission for 190 passengers. The special feature of the new ferry was that the wheelhouse was located high above the center of the ferry on one side, for the convenience of accommodating the increasingly taller vehicles. This included the many traveling carnivals that visited the city festivals in the summer and were frequent customers on the ferries. The fact that it also had a long and loyal service on the route is evident from the fact that it was only sold after 55 years of service in the autumn of 2013. In 1964, after 34 years of service on the route, the old "Korshage" was replaced by a new namesake, the 3rd ferry on the route with the name "Korshage." This new "Korshage," however, had its wheelhouse placed high above the center of the ferry, and as a result, it was always referred to as "the big ferry" by the passengers.

"Skansehage" and "Korshage" in countless encounters over 20 years.

From the mid-60s, during the boom in summer house construction in Odsherred, and for two decades afterward, these two ferries are surely the ones remembered by slightly older ferry customers as faithful workhorses during the busy summer months. They made trip after trip with full loads and waiting lines of cars at the ferry terminals. In 1980, after more than 50 years of operating the ferry route within the Nielsen family, the third generation of the family had no one interested in continuing the business. So, on April 1, 1980, a generational shift took place, where four of the ferry company's employees stepped in and bought the route. This garnered a lot of media attention in the summer of 1980. Among the new ferry owners, there was a consensus that, due to their new status, they should not adopt the habits of shipowners. Each of them would continue to perform their previous roles within the company, just like other employees, and they believed that this approach would ensure the company's success. This sensible approach still holds true, 37 years later, and is likely one of the reasons why the ferry company has maintained good financial stability.

In 1991, when a couple of the four ferry owners wanted to retire, a new generational shift took place. At that time, on May 1, 1991, the circle of shareholders among employees expanded to ten. However, this change was not particularly noticeable to outsiders since the new shareholders continued to perform their previous roles within the ferry company. In addition to the fact that the ownership circle was now exclusively composed of employees, another change occurred: the company, which had been founded by three brothers from Rørvig and had been owned by individuals connected to the Rørvig side for many years, now had all its owners from Hundested. As a result, in 1995, the company was officially relocated to the Hundested harbor.

Now, back to the ferries. In May 1985, the ferry company received an offer to purchase a used ferry that had become surplus on the Hov – Selvig route (Jutland – Samsø). It was indeed an older ferry, built in 1955, but it had several advantages that made it highly suitable for the Hundested – Rørvig route. First of all, it had a double-sized car deck compared to the two other ferries, with room for 20 – 21 cars, bright lounges, and a large sundeck on top for the enjoyment of up to 190 passengers. It was quickly acquired and named "Nakkehage." However, some modifications had to be made to the ferry to fit it into the ferry terminals alongside the smaller ferries. In August 1985, it was put into service on the route. Initially, it was not an unqualified success. The wider and significantly heavier ferry caused problems when docking at the old ferry terminal in Rørvig. This attracted a lot of spectators on the pier, caused some gray hairs for the ferry crew, and resulted in dents and scratches on the harbor structures. After the summer season, the ferry company contacted the Nykøbing – Rørvig municipality, to which the harbor belongs. This led to an evaluation of the ferry company's docking issues, and in record time, a complete renovation of both the ferry terminal and the entire area where the ferry company resides was carried out. Additionally, there was a deepening of the ferry harbor and approach, which significantly improved the ferry's maneuverability. In Hundested, there was a similar issue with the ferry terminal being too small, but here, a different solution was found by taking over a former Grenå-ferry terminal right next to the ferry's marshalling area, which the ferry fit perfectly.