Thursday, March 13, 2025

THE MAINTENANCE TEAM – BEHIND THE SCENES

As the days pass, we are getting closer and closer to the start of our next season. Before we know it, we will be sailing again. At Gentle Giants, we are a big group of people from all over the world, working hard to make each season even better than the ones before.

While in summer, our crew members on the boats and in the Ticket Center are the ones welcoming our guests, there are several more team members just as essential to our operations – especially behind the scenes. Their work ensures the well-being and safety of our boats, crew and passengers.

Although there is plenty to do around the boats and facilities from early to late throughout the summer and literally every single day throughout the season, it is especially now in winter that the maintenance team has to prove its skills. Working with the best maintenance team there could possibly be, there is no doubt these guys know perfectly how to get our boats looking and performing like new in time for the season's start on April 1st.

Let me introduce you to the faces of our skilled maintenance team

Kalli – Fleet Manager (Joined GG in 2011)

Kalli is the head of the maintenance team. Having been with us since 2011, he knows all our boats inside out – you can imagine how quick he is in finding the right solution and solving our problems every single day. With him in charge, we can be sure everything will be top-notch by the start of the season.

Sverrir – Head Captain RIB Speedboats & Maintenance (Joined GG in 2012)

Sverrir is not only our RIB head captain but also in charge of maintaining the speedboats during winter. In the blink of an eye, he manages to solve any malfunction and keeps the boats running like on day 1. Soon all four RIBs are just like new again – ready to carry numerous whale watching enthusiasts throughout the season.

Halli – Head Captain Oak Boats & Maintenance (Joined GG in 2015)

Halli is the head captain of our oak boats, sailing throughout the season on both the oak boats and the RIB speedboats. At the same time, he takes wonderful care of our traditional oak boats – just as if they were his own. Besides that, he is always having that sparkling idea to improve the comfort for everyone on board. Did you know: it was him who stayed in Stykkishólmur the entire last winter, taking the very best care of our dear Sylvía while she was getting her brand-new engine, fuel tanks and propeller.

Reynir – Captain & Maintenance (Joined GG in 2023, lumpfishing before)

Reynir has been working for Gentle Giants since several years already, though mostly out at sea on our sea angling boat Aþena. He has been part of the lumpfish fishing team for several years and went out for coastal fishing on his own. Last season, he joined the group of the RIB speedboat captains, sailing throughout summer in search for whales. In autumn, he joined the maintenance team, helping Kalli and Sverrir in all that there is to do around the boats before the season begins.

Miro – Guide & Maintenance (Joined GG in 2015)

Miro has worked in several positions since joining Gentle Giants. While being a guide on board the whale watching boats throughout the season, he joins the maintenance team during low season and parts of winter, assisting in getting all the boats sparkling and ready again for April 1st.

A huge thanks to our dedicated maintenance team for their hard work behind the scenes. Without them, we wouldn't be able to welcome our guests aboard each season!

-Sarah & Daniel