CaptainsVoyage by Captain Bank

10/06/2026

Here are some images and stories about going to a wet dock with a Norwegian passenger- and car ferry.

09/06/2026

🇹🇭 วันที่ 17 พฤษภาคม เป็นหนึ่งในวันที่สำคัญและเปี่ยมด้วยความสุขที่สุดของประเทศนอร์เวย์ เนื่องในวันรัฐธรรมนูญของชาติครับ ตั้งแต่เช้าตรู่จนถึงค่ำคืน เมืองใหญ่ เมืองเล็ก และหมู่บ้านทั่วประเทศจะเต็มไปด้วยธงชาตินอร์เวย์ วงดุริยางค์ ขบวนพาเหรดของเด็ก ๆ สุนทรพจน์ ชุดประจำชาตินอร์เวย์ ฮอตดอก ไอศกรีม และเสียงร้อง "Hurra!" ดังก้องไปทุกแห่งครับ

สิ่งที่ทำให้วันนี้พิเศษอย่างยิ่งคือการเป็นวันแห่งประชาชน โดยเฉพาะเด็ก ๆ ที่เป็นศูนย์กลางของการเฉลิมฉลองครับ บรรยากาศเต็มไปด้วยความภาคภูมิใจ ความสุข และความสามัคคี ซึ่งเป็นสิ่งที่หาได้ยากจากที่อื่นในโลกครับ

หากคุณมีโอกาสมาเยือนนอร์เวย์ครับ จงพยายามมาให้ตรงกับวันที่ 17 พฤษภาคม เพราะนี่ไม่ใช่เพียงวันหยุดแห่งชาติ แต่เป็นประสบการณ์ที่คุณจะจดจำไปตลอดชีวิตครับ

🇳🇴 May 17th is one of the most important and joyful days of the year in Norway, as the nation celebrates Constitution Day. From early morning until late evening, cities, towns, and villages come alive with Norwegian flags, marching bands, children's parades, patriotic speeches, traditional national costumes, hot dogs, ice cream, and countless cries of "Hurra!"

What makes this day so special is that it is truly a celebration of the people, especially the children, who take center stage throughout the festivities. The atmosphere is one of pride, happiness, and community, unlike anything else I have experienced anywhere in the world.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Norway, my best personal recommendation is that you should make every effort to be here on May 17th.

It is not just a national holiday, it is an experience you will remember for the rest of your life.

09/06/2026

Here is another concept that I have spent many, many hours developing and refining, trying to transform an idea from my imagination into something that could almost be mistaken for a real ship.

The design takes inspiration from the 1964-built coastal steamer Kong Olav, carrying forward many of the features that made the original vessel so distinctive, while reimagining them for a much larger and more capable ship. In this interpretation, she has grown from the original 87 metres to approximately 140 metres in length and returned as a newly built expedition vessel, blending classic Norwegian coastal heritage with modern technology and capability.

One of the most significant changes is the adoption of an X-Bow-inspired hull form, chosen for its seakeeping qualities and expedition credentials.

The intention was never to create a completely new ship, but rather a vessel where those familiar with Kong Olav would immediately recognise her lineage despite the modern appearance.

Some may notice the row of windows forward. In reality, these would be protected by large weather hatches fitted with smaller, heavy-duty windows. During rough conditions the hatches could be lowered to fully enclose and protect the space, while in calmer weather, as shown here, they would remain open to maximise the spectacular views from the forward observation lounge.

As always, I would be genuinely interested to hear your thoughts.

What elements work well, what would you have done differently, and does this modern interpretation still capture enough of the spirit of the original Kong Olav?

09/06/2026

Thank you to my supportive : Seeing how much you enjoyed my previous first public venture into ship design, I decided to share another image from the collection. This concept was created quite some time ago, perhaps one or two years back, and depicts the 1964-built Norwegian coastal steamer Kong Olav reimagined as a perfectly proportioned classical expedition vessel.

The idea behind the project was simple: what if Kong Olav had never left Norway after her coastal service ended? What if she had remained under the Norwegian flag throughout her life and been continuously modernised while retaining her unmistakable character and heritage?

You may also choose to see her as a brand-new sister ship, built today with all the technology, comfort, safety systems, and expedition capabilities expected of a modern vessel, yet wrapped in a timeless and elegant exterior that pays tribute to the original. Behind the classic lines lies a completely reworked interior layout, carefully designed to match the ship I envisioned, although I suspect those plans will remain in the archives for now.

This project was, and still is, my personal exploration of a simple but fascinating question:

What if...?

06/06/2026

06/06/2026

One thing I have always found interesting about underpasses and similar places is how they often become unofficial canvases for creativity. Some graffiti is little more than random tagging, but every now and then you come across something like this, where there is clearly time, effort, imagination and genuine artistic skill behind the work.

Graffiti is a topic that tends to divide opinion. On the positive side, it can transform dull concrete walls into colourful public art, provide an outlet for creativity, and sometimes even tell stories about a community. On the other hand, it can be viewed as vandalism when created without permission, lead to costly cleanup efforts, and in some cases contribute to a feeling of neglect in an area.

What I find particularly interesting is the contrast between Norway and Thailand. In Norway, graffiti and street art are relatively common sights, especially in cities, underpasses, industrial areas and railway environments. In Thailand, however, it is surprisingly rare to encounter anything similar outside a few designated urban art districts. Whether that comes down to cultural differences, attitudes toward public spaces, stricter social norms, or simply different ways of expressing creativity, I am not entirely sure. After spending many years in Thailand and travelling extensively throughout the country, I can count on one hand the number of times I have come across large-scale graffiti like this.

Whatever your opinion on graffiti may be, there is no denying that this particular underpass catches the eye and turns an otherwise ordinary passage into something people actually stop to look at.

02/06/2026

Most people know me as a ship's Captain, a photographer, a drone pilot, and someone who is constantly documenting the world around me. What far fewer people know is that I occasionally enjoy stepping into the role of ship designer as well.

What do you think of my ideas and design?

01/06/2026

Oh, the simple joy of going home from work, even if only for a few short hours.

After days surrounded by the constant soundtrack of shipboard life, engines humming, ventilation systems running, doors opening and closing, radios crackling and people moving about, there is something almost magical about stepping into a comfortable car and setting course for home.

Then comes perhaps the best part of all. Arriving home, closing the door behind you, and allowing complete silence to take command for an hour or two. No alarms, no radios, no machinery, no conversations demanding your attention.

Just peace and quiet.

It is remarkable how quickly the mind begins to settle when the noise disappears. After a while, you can once again hear your own thoughts, regain your bearings, and recharge for the next voyage ahead.

Spectacularly cheesy perhaps, but sometimes the greatest luxury in life is not found in what surrounds us, but in the absence of everything else.

01/06/2026

Dearest These are the two latest additions to this drone photography album, one of several collections I maintain. With their arrival, the album has now reached 431 images, featuring ships, landscapes, cityscapes, and many other beautiful subjects that have caught my attention along the way.

I warmly invite you not only to have a look at these two images, but to explore the entire album. There is a good chance you will discover something you have not seen before, and perhaps even a photograph or two that will make you stop and take a closer look.

After all, the greatest value of a collection like this is not in the number of images it contains, but in the stories, memories and moments preserved within it. And there are many stories added to each image - likes and comments will naturally not be required but highly appreciated.

31/05/2026

June is knocking on the door, and I am not entirely sure that this is the worst way to finish off the month of May and set a course for the first day of June.

A perfectly still Sunday morning on the Trondheimsfjord, the water as smooth as polished glass, the countryside dressed in every shade of green, and the first rays of sunshine beginning to break through the cloud cover. In just a few hours, we will once again be underway, carrying passengers safely across the fjord as another busy summer season gathers momentum.

It's perhaps painfully cheesy to say this, but moments like these are still a reminder that not every memorable day needs dramatic weather or spectacular events.

Sometimes, all it takes is a calm fjord, the smell of the fjord, a quiet morning, and the promise of new journeys ahead.

Fair winds to everyone as we leave May astern tonight and set our course into June.