Swedish replica that crossed seas and reached Canada suffered damage to the mast and stern during the production directed by Christopher Nolan.
A historic vessel used in the filming of “The Odyssey” has become the center of a dispute between a Swedish association and Universal.
The Glad av Gillberga, a replica of a Viking ship, remained under the responsibility of the film studio for approximately six months.
The vessel reportedly returned from filming with damage to the stern, mast, and other parts of its structure.
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Those responsible for the boat claim that the repairs have already been completed. Even so, the payment of approximately US$ 6,000 remains pending.
Swedish association demands payment for repairs
The vessel belongs to the non-profit association Vikingaleden, located in the Värmland region, in western Sweden.
After receiving the damaged ship, members of the organization carried out the necessary repairs to restore its structure.
The entity later sent an invoice to Universal, amounting to approximately US$ 6,000, equivalent to about R$ 30,000.
The amount only considers the materials used during the restoration.
No costs related to the volunteer work of the members were included in the invoice sent to the studio.
According to Vikingaleden, the agreement made before filming stipulated that the association would make the repairs and receive reimbursement.
Invoice reportedly pending for about a year
The president of Vikingaleden, Peter Olausson, stated that the invoice remains unpaid approximately a year after its issuance.
According to Olausson, the association is only requesting reimbursement for the materials used in the repair.
“We are only charging for the cost of the material, not the labor,” declared the president of the organization.
Olausson also stated that the amount represents a relatively small sum for a large film studio.
The situation, however, has a significant impact on the association responsible for the maintenance of the vessel.
Vikingaleden gathers about 200 members and also manages a Viking village and a museum.
Ship has already crossed the North Sea and reached Canada
The Glad av Gillberga was inspired by a shipwreck dated to approximately 1040.
The remnants of the ancient vessel were found in the Roskilde fjord, located in Denmark.
For nearly three decades of activities, the replica sailed through important maritime regions.
The ship has already traversed the North Sea, crossed the Baltic Sea, and participated in a voyage to Canada.
The vessel returned to normal operation after repairs carried out by the association members.
The pride of participating in an international production, however, was overshadowed by the absence of reimbursement, according to Olausson.
Vessel was transformed to represent Ancient Greece
The Viking ship was used as one of the escort vessels of the fleet presented in “The Odyssey”.
The production team had to modify different characteristics of the boat to bring it closer to the vessels of Ancient Greece.
Tents, modern equipment, and other elements were removed during the preparation for filming.
The deck remained open during the period in which the crew participated in the recordings.
Swedish captain Björn Ahlander stated that the adaptations made the six months of work especially difficult.
The crew remained on the ship during the filming conducted on Greek and Italian islands.
Million-dollar production adapts Homer’s epic poem
Directed by Christopher Nolan, “The Odyssey” adapts the epic poem attributed to Homer.
The story follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca, during his long journey home after the Trojan War.
The production is said to have cost approximately US$ 250 million.
The Glad av Gillberga was used among the ships that formed the fleet presented in the feature film.
The main vessel of the protagonist was represented by the Draken Harald Hårfagre, a Norwegian replica 35 meters long.
Universal was contacted to comment on the charge
Vikingaleden claims that the studio failed to fulfill the commitment to reimburse the materials used in the restoration.
The payment represents an important value for an entity maintained by members and volunteer work.
Universal was contacted to comment on the case involving the Viking ship used in the filming.
The vessel remains operational, while the association continues to await the promised payment.
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