Helgelandske

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Helgelandske AS
Type	Subsidiary
Founded	1867
Headquarters	Sandnessjøen, Norway
Industry	Transport
Parent	Veolia Transport Norway
Website	www.helgelandske.no

Helgelandske is a Norwegian bus and ferry operator based in Helgeland. The company is owned by Veolia Transport Norway and operates 18 passenger- and car ferries. The company has its main office in Sandnessjøen.

The company was founded in 1867 as Det Helgelandske Dampskibsselskap, the same year its first steam ship, D/S Helgeland was launched. In 1898 the company moved its headquarters from Søvik to Sandnessjøen. In the 1920s the company tried, but failed to achieve success with cruise operations. The last steam ship was taken out of service in 1955, and in 1957, after having bought a number of smaller bus operators in the area, changed its name to Helgeland Trafikkselskap. In 1976 the company got its first high-speed boat, and operated a travel agency between 1959 and 2000. The company changed its name to Helgelandske in 1998, the name that has been its nickname since the start. In 2005 Veolia bought the company and as of April 1, 2006 the company lost the public service obligation (PSO) contract for all its bus routes except the airport coach, the routes being transfered to SB Nordlandsbuss.