Gaute Børstad Skjervø, the leader of AUF, has expressed support for renaming the MS 'Thorbjørn' due to feelings of outrage regarding revelations about the involvement of Norwegians in the network of the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Skjervø criticized those associated with Epstein, which includes a former prime minister from the Labour Party, who was closely connected to one of the world's most notorious pedophiles.

Recently, it was announced that Thorbjørn Jagland, the former prime minister who the ferry is named after, has been charged with serious corruption, carrying a possible ten-year prison sentence. Police have carried out searches of Jagland's apartment in Oslo, as well as properties in Risør and Rauland, suggesting significant developments in this ongoing investigation. The scrutiny of Jagland adds an additional layer of urgency to the calls for the name change.

The MS 'Thorbjørn' is more than just a vessel; it serves a meaningful role as a ferry transporting AUF members to their annual summer camp on the island of Utøya. Originally built as a military landing craft, the ferry symbolizes the journey of the AUF organization. In light of the current controversies surrounding its namesake, the future of the ferry's name sits heavily on the agenda of AUF's leadership.