WHAT IS A RIB BOAT?
RIB stands for Rigid-inflatable Boat and is a very special kind of inflatable power boat. They are lightweight but with high performance abilities which make them extremely stable, nimble and therefore sea-worthy - as well as super fun to zoom around on for whale and puffin watching! RIB boats are so stable that they are often used as rescue crafts by search and rescue teams in difficult sea and weather conditions.
WHY CALL THEM ÞRUMA?
Excellent question! Þruma is the Icelandic word for Thunder, which we thought was the perfect way of identifying the vessels in our fast fleet of RIB boats. At the moment we are the proud owners of the largest RIB fleet in Iceland consisting of four Þrumas or Thunders: Þruma I, Þruma II, Þruma III & Þruma IV in Reykjavík, as well as Sólfar I, Sólfar II & Diplomat that zoom around the salty waters up north in Eyjafjörður by Akureyri.
WHY WHALE WATCHING ON A RIB BOAT?
Well, why wouldn‘t you? Because in our opinion the RIB boats are the ideal way to experience what the open waters have to offer. No words can easily describe the serene feeling of being at sea level with the magnificent wildlife. The ride itself is simply an exhilarating adventure as you cruise around the North-Atlantic waters in the small open air boat. The speed alone gives us the chance to cover a larger area during tours in comparison with larger, slower boats. Also, with the boats being so manoeuvrable, our experienced captains can easily position them in ways that offer great sightings whilst ensuring that we disturb the wildlife as little as possible.
IS IT SAFE?
We welcome you aboard the RIB boats as they are very stable & seaworthy. Each year, all of our boats are inspected by the Icelandic Transport Authority making sure they fulfil all requirements. To make sure everything is working properly, the boats undergo routine maintenance throughout the operating season. Our whale watching boats are also equipped with high performance suspension seats. The shock absorbing seats increase safety and comfort, as well as highly reducing the risk of injuries. Our captains are specially trained RIB captains with all crew members trained and licensed by the Maritime Safety and Survival Centre of Iceland.
