& this number is for Bergen city. [00 47 5x xx xx xx = geographical numbers in south-western counties, including Bergen ] Norwegian mobiles begin with 00 47 9x xx xx xx.
Is the number being rerouted to him or would there be a chance of more mobile numbers on the ship?

Simon van der Plicht, master of the Solitaire

1) the number is a landline in Bergen Norway.
2) the name "Captain van der Pflicht" means "Captain on Duty".

Maybe one of the Irish team who know about ships so much could find the real name or verify this unlikely one. Coz it seems like you're having the piss taken out of you. Admittledly it's not such a suspicious name as Captain Nemo or Commodore Godzilla. But it is very unlikely. So I'd suggest someone calls the ship by radio instead. here are the details:

Entry #9648
IMO registration 7129049
ship name SOLITAIRE
Call sign 3ECI8
type Pipe-Layer
DWT 127435
built march 1972
refitted 2005
Panama flag.

people have been trying to communicate by radio and having no luck. the telephone number given does get through to the soiltaire, maybe it is re-routed from norway? Maybe you're right about the name, but i don't think it really matters if we have his name or not- theres only going to be one captain of the Solitaire so asking for the captain is surely enough!

& asking them why they're not captain on duty? You know - spread the mutiny. Perhaps you've never been in telemarketing & prefer the top-down authoritarian approach. But if news goes round the nearly 500 crew that there are loads of calls being stopped - they might get upset ship's radio room.

I'll phone the number again in any case!

;-)