Hurtigruten's management, has been trying to deal with economic difficulties for some time, however, warning that two more vessels could be laid up unless more financial aid comes from the government.

Hurtigruten has daily sailings along the country's western and northern coast. It's ships sail almost the entire length of the country, completing the roundtrip journey in 11 days.

The line has been asking for more state funding since traditional stops at the dozens of tiny ports are expensive. So far, state aid comes to NOK 250 million a but Hurtigruten claims the amount isn't enough to cover the costs of such service, especially out of the more lucrative tourist seasons.

However, some are saying that Hurtigruten is paying for an expensive cruise-ship fleet program during the 1990s.

The line took its vessel Nord-Norge out of service earlier this autumn.