Viking ship moors in Inverness during major film shoot in Moray
A boat described as the world's largest Viking ship to be built in modern times has been moored in Inverness during a major film shoot.It is understood the Draken Harald Hårfagre is being used as an ancient Greek warship in The Odyssey, a new movie by Oscar-winning director Christopher Nolan and starring Matt Damon.The boat's owners said they could not comment directly on any specific film activity, but added that the vessel was involved in various international projects this year.The Odyssey is a poem written almost 3,000 years ago about Greek hero Odysseus and his journey home after years away at war.
The film production based on the story has been filming on the Moray Firth coast.Reported locations include the fishing port of Buckie and the ruins of Findlater Castle near Cullen.
Nolan's film Oppenheimer won best directing award and best picture at last year's Oscars.The director's other films have included Dunkirk and Inception.Some action scenes for his Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises, were filmed in the Cairngorms in 2011.There was a plan to land a large military transport plane on the A9, but the stunt did not go ahead.
Draken is described as a Viking ship built in modern times, and not a replica.Construction began on the 35m (115ft) boat in 2010 and was initiated by Norwegian entrepreneur Sigurd Aase.It first sailed in 2012 and made its first ocean-going voyage two years later, when it crossed from Haugesund in Norway to Liverpool in England.On the way its mast broke in rough seas near Shetland and the crew was forced into making an emergency stop.A new mast was made from Douglas fir sourced from Dumfries and Galloway.The Draken project's chief executive Emanuel Persson said the boat's arrival at Inverness' Seaport Marina had caused a stir.He told BBC Scotland News: "Her presence in Scotland is part of a wider voyage and an exciting chapter in her ongoing story."While we can't comment directly on any specific film activity, we can confirm that Draken has been engaged in various international projects this year, including collaborations within the film and television industry."He added: "Scotland's deep Norse heritage makes it a particularly meaningful destination, and we're proud to bring Draken back to these shore - continuing our mission to connect history, culture, and exploration."
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