Frode Bjøru, managing director of the traditional sail-making craft business Seglloftet on Jøa, faces a looming retirement next year with no successor lined up to take over the rare trade. According to Bjøru, the workshop produces traditional sails for customers worldwide and holds a specialized knowledge that he claims no one else possesses globally. Despite a busy workload, the upcoming retirement threatens the continuity of the craft unless a successor emerges.
Hollywood Spotlight and the Draken Silk Sail Connection
Hope for the craft’s survival has arrived from an unexpected source as the Hollywood film “The Odyssey,” directed by Christopher Nolan, features the Norwegian viking ship Draken equipped with silk sails crafted by Bjøru. In 2009, when the 35-meter-long ship—described as the world’s largest modern viking ship—was built in Haugesund, Bjøru was contacted to produce traditional sails for the vessel. What followed was a challenging project that required a 300-square-meter silk sail, a material the experienced sail-maker had never worked with before.
“I’ve heard talk of silk, but I’ve probably had at most one silk shirt in my lifetime,” Bjøru stated regarding the unique commission. The undertaking required two trips to India to source the fabric and involved three people working for three years to hand-sew the entire structure. Following its 2012 launch, the ship completed expeditions to Britain and across the Atlantic to the United States before the sails reappeared on screen for a global audience in Nolan’s film.
Recruitment Challenges and Institutional Support for Endangered Trades
The broader craft community and government officials warn that media attention alone cannot rescue endangered traditional trades without increased financial backing. "The apprentice must have a wage, the person who teaches must also get a wage, and there are some costs with it," Falk explained, noting that the current training grant is insufficient to cover these operational expenses.
To address these recruitment barriers, the Norwegian government increased funding for small and endangered crafts by 2 million kroner for 2026, according to Minister of Education Kari Nessa Nordtun (Ap). Under the 2026 adjustments, eligible businesses receive an ordinary subsidy alongside an extra grant for each ordinary apprentice in designated protected trades. Seglmakarfaget is officially listed among Norway’s 43 designated verneverdige tradisjonshandverk.
Statistics and Industry Warnings on the Future of Sail-Making
Official figures highlight the severity of the demographic bottleneck facing sail-making in Norway. Since 2020, only four individuals have passed the journeyman’s test (sveineprøve) in the sail-maker trade, while just two new apprenticeship contracts have been signed during the same period. Einar Borgfjord, boat-builder and leader of the boat-building workshop at the Museum of Coastal Heritage (Museet Kystens Arv) in Stadsbygd on Fosen, called Bjøru’s impending retirement a potential crisis for traditional watercraft.
“Then we have no one who sews sails for the traditional boats. It can become a challenge. A crisis, quite simply,” Borgfjord said, identifying Bjøru as virtually the only remaining maker of traditional square sails (råsegl) with this specialized expertise. Meanwhile, Bjøru remains open to delaying his retirement if an interested apprentice steps forward to learn the trade, stating that he is prepared to continue working to pass down the cultural heritage.
Did You Know?
The 35-meter-long modern viking ship Draken Harald Hårfarge was built in Haugesund in 2009 and featured a 300-square-meter hand-sewn silk sail that took three artisans three years to complete.
Expert Insight
The intersection of global pop-culture platforms like Hollywood cinema and centuries-old intangible cultural heritage highlights a critical paradox in modern preservation: while international exposure can generate unprecedented public visibility for traditional crafts, structural economic hurdles such as apprentice wages and specialized training costs ultimately determine whether endangered techniques survive a generational transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused renewed public interest in Bjøru’s sail-making?
The international release of Christopher Nolan’s film “The Odyssey,” which features the Norwegian viking ship Draken sailing with silk sails produced by Bjøru, brought renewed attention to the craft alongside recent focus on coastal culture following the football World Cup.
How many people have entered the sail-maker trade recently?
According to official figures cited in the source material, four people have passed the journeyman’s test in the sail-maker trade since 2020, and only two new apprenticeship contracts have been signed during that same period.
What financial support is available for traditional crafts in Norway?
The government increased grants for small and endangered crafts by 2 million kroner for 2026. Training enterprises receive an ordinary subsidy plus an additional grant for each ordinary apprentice.
Would you consider learning a rare traditional craft if financial support for apprenticeships were higher?
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