M/S Saltskär – historic archipelago boat for private charter and boat tours in Bohuslän
Experience Bohuslän from the sea aboard M/S Saltskär – a classic archipelago boat with more than one hundred years of history. With her genuine character, steady presence and strong connection to Swedish passenger and archipelago traffic, M/S Saltskär offers a memorable experience for private guests, groups and companies.
Today, M/S Saltskär is operated by Selin Charter for archipelago tours, seal safaris, fishing trips, lobster safaris, private boat charters and events in northern Bohuslän. The boat mainly operates in the area around Grebbestad, Tanumstrand, Hamburgsund and the Fjällbacka archipelago, where passengers can experience some of the most iconic coastal landscapes on the Swedish west coast.
Whether you want to book a relaxing boat tour, arrange a corporate event, gather family and friends or experience the Bohuslän archipelago from the water, M/S Saltskär is a vessel with soul, history and presence.
A historic archipelago boat dating back to 1913
M/S Saltskär was built in 1913 at AB C J Wennbergs Mekaniska Verkstad in Karlstad. The vessel was originally delivered as Hammarö to Hammarö Ångbåts AB and was used for traffic between Hammarö and Karlstad.
This means that today’s M/S Saltskär has her roots in Värmland, Lake Vänern and Karlstad’s historic steamboat traffic. From the very beginning, she was built to carry people across water – a role she has continued to fulfil for more than a century.
Over the years, the vessel has had several names, home ports and routes around Sweden. She has been known as Hammarö, Tynäs, Hebe V, Hebe af Visingsö, Wadstena, Strömkarlen and finally Saltskär.
When you step aboard M/S Saltskär today, you are not only boarding a charter boat in Bohuslän. You are stepping onto a living piece of Swedish maritime history.
From Hammarö and Karlstad to Gränna, Visingsö and Lake Vättern
After her first years in Värmland, the vessel was sold in 1930 and renamed Tynäs. In 1950, she continued her journey to Gränna, where she was renamed Hebe V and began operating on the classic route between Gränna and Visingsö.
This became an important period in the vessel’s history. During her years around Gränna, Visingsö and Lake Vättern, the boat became part of one of Sweden’s best-known passenger routes by water. Later, she was named Hebe af Visingsö, further strengthening her connection to the area and to local boat traffic on Lake Vättern.
This chapter makes M/S Saltskär especially interesting for anyone who appreciates historic vessels, heritage boats and classic Swedish archipelago and inland water traffic.
Through Vadstena, Borghamn and Trollhättan
In the 1990s, the vessel continued her journey to Vadstena, where she was renamed Wadstena. She also later had a connection to Borghamn, on the eastern side of Lake Vättern.
In 2014, the vessel was sold to Rederi AB Strömkarlen in Trollhättan and renamed Strömkarlen. That same year, she was leased to Karlstads Sjötrafik AB and returned to service in Värmland, including on the route Karlstad – Lövnäs – Jäverön – Västra Långholmen.
In this way, M/S Saltskär has travelled through several of Sweden’s most distinctive water environments: Lake Vänern, Lake Vättern, Karlstad, Hammarö, Gränna, Visingsö, Vadstena, Borghamn and Trollhättan.
M/S Saltskär becomes part of Selin Charter and the Bohuslän archipelago
In 2019, the vessel received her current identity when she was sold to Västkustens Skärgårdsbåtar AB on Resö and renamed Saltskär. This marked the beginning of a new chapter on the Swedish west coast.
Today, M/S Saltskär is part of Selin Charter’s operations in northern Bohuslän and is mainly used for tours in the Grebbestad and Fjällbacka archipelagos. Here, the vessel’s long history meets Bohuslän’s granite cliffs, open sea, fishing communities and living archipelago culture.
From Hammarö and Karlstad to Gränna, Visingsö, Vadstena, Trollhättan, Resö, Grebbestad and Fjällbacka, M/S Saltskär has followed Sweden’s waterways for more than a hundred years. Each name and each place has added a new chapter to the boat’s story.
Archipelago tours from Grebbestad and Tanumstrand
Most tours with M/S Saltskär depart from Grebbestad Guest Harbour or Tanumstrand. From here, the boat takes passengers through parts of the Fjällbacka archipelago – an area known for its dramatic coastal scenery, open waters and characteristic Bohuslän granite landscapes.
During an archipelago tour with M/S Saltskär, you may experience places such as:
- Hamburgsund – a classic coastal community and historic fairway
- Florön – a scenic island in the Fjällbacka archipelago
- Hjärterön – part of the Bohuslän archipelago landscape
- Dannholmen, also known as Ingrid Bergman’s island
- Cliffs, fishing villages and open sea environments along the Bohuslän coast
A boat tour with M/S Saltskär is ideal both for first-time visitors to Bohuslän and for those who want to experience Grebbestad, Tanumstrand and Fjällbacka from the sea.
Charter M/S Saltskär for private arrangements and events
M/S Saltskär can be chartered for private tours, group trips and special arrangements in the Bohuslän archipelago. Together with Selin Charter, the tour can be adapted to your group’s preferences, weather conditions, season and desired destinations along the coast.
M/S Saltskär is especially suitable for:
- Corporate events and kick-offs
- Client events and staff activities
- Group trips and associations
- Weddings and private celebrations
- Guided archipelago tours in Bohuslän
- Seal safaris and nature experiences
- Fishing trips and lobster safaris
- Special tours in the Grebbestad and Fjällbacka archipelagos
Arranging an event aboard M/S Saltskär gives guests more than an ordinary venue. The journey itself becomes part of the experience – with the sea, the landscape and the historic vessel as a natural setting.
Seal safaris, fishing and lobster safaris with M/S Saltskär
In addition to classic archipelago tours, M/S Saltskär is also used for several of Selin Charter’s themed experiences. During the season, the boat can be used for seal safaris, fishing trips and lobster safaris in Bohuslän.
A seal safari gives guests the chance to experience marine wildlife up close. Fishing trips are ideal for those who want to combine a sea experience with activity and time together, while a lobster safari connects visitors to one of the west coast’s most classic coastal traditions.
These tours are suitable for families, companies, associations and visitors who want to experience the Bohuslän archipelago in a more active and memorable way.
Why choose M/S Saltskär?
M/S Saltskär is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a charter boat in Bohuslän with a genuine archipelago atmosphere. The vessel combines historic charm with practical flexibility and is suitable for both scheduled tours and tailor-made arrangements.
What makes M/S Saltskär especially appreciated is the combination of:
- Documented vessel history dating back to 1913
- Historic roots in Karlstad, Hammarö, Gränna, Visingsö, Vadstena and Trollhättan
- Current operations in the Grebbestad and Fjällbacka archipelagos
- Possibility of private charter tours and group arrangements
- Close connection to Bohuslän’s nature, culture and marine wildlife
- Flexible arrangements for companies, groups, families and private parties
With M/S Saltskär, you get more than a boat tour. You get an experience shaped by Swedish maritime history, Bohuslän coastal culture and the living archipelago of the west coast.
Vessel facts about M/S Saltskär
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Year built | 1913 |
| Original name | Hammarö |
| Current name | M/S Saltskär |
| Shipyard | AB C J Wennbergs Mekaniska Verkstad, Karlstad |
| Yard number | 55 |
| Original vessel type | Steam launch |
| Current vessel type | Motor vessel |
| Material | Iron |
| Current length | 21.43 metres |
| Current beam | 4.63 metres |
| Draught | 2.20 metres |
| Current engine | Volvo Penta TMD 100B |
| Current power | 200 hp / 147 kW |
| Top speed | Approximately 10 knots |
| Current passenger capacity | 75 passengers |
Book or charter M/S Saltskär
Would you like to plan an archipelago tour, a corporate event, a private boat tour or a special arrangement in Bohuslän?
Contact Selin Charter to book or send an enquiry about chartering M/S Saltskär. We will help you find the right setup based on your group size, preferred route, season and type of experience.
Send a booking enquiry and let M/S Saltskär become the setting for your next experience in the Bohuslän archipelago.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about M/S Saltskär
Can M/S Saltskär be privately chartered?
Yes. M/S Saltskär can be privately chartered for private arrangements, group trips, corporate events and special tours in the Bohuslän archipelago.
Where does M/S Saltskär operate?
M/S Saltskär is mainly used for tours in the area around Grebbestad, Tanumstrand, Hamburgsund and the Fjällbacka archipelago. The route may vary depending on the tour, weather, season and booking.
How many passengers can M/S Saltskär take?
M/S Saltskär currently has a passenger capacity of up to 75 passengers.
What can you do aboard M/S Saltskär?
The boat is used for archipelago tours, private charter, seal safaris, fishing trips, lobster safaris, corporate events, group trips and private arrangements.
Is M/S Saltskär suitable for corporate events?
Yes. M/S Saltskär is well suited for companies planning kick-offs, client events, staff activities or conference-related experiences in a unique maritime setting.
Is M/S Saltskär suitable for weddings or private celebrations?
Yes. M/S Saltskär can be used for private celebrations, weddings and other special arrangements where the sea and the archipelago become a natural part of the experience.
Can the tour be customised?
Yes. For private charter, the tour can often be adapted to the group’s preferences, destinations, timing, season and purpose of the event.
Discover Selin Charter’s other boats
Selin Charter operates several vessels along the Bohuslän coast, making it possible to offer different types of tours and charter arrangements. Each boat has its own characteristics and is used in different parts of the archipelago.
You can also discover more tours aboard our other vessels:
- M/S Kosterskär – mainly operates in the Strömstad archipelago and Kosterhavet National Park, with tours to places such as Alaska and the Koster Islands.
- M/S Sara – a smaller passenger vessel used for transport, group trips and flexible tours in the archipelago.
Together, Selin Charter’s vessels make it possible to discover some of Bohuslän’s most spectacular coastal environments – from Kosterhavet National Park in the north to the Fjällbacka archipelago further south.
