Strandfaraskip Landsins was established in 1917 when the government took over the ferry Smiril from the brothers Petur og Niels Juel Mortensen from Suðuroy.

In the first half of the 20th century, several other private regional services were founded, which combined freight, mail, passengers and milk transport to and from Tórshavn.

In 1980 the government agency Bygdaleiðir was established and tasked with the integrated bus network in central Streymoy, linking Tórshavn to the ferry service to Vágar, and on Sandoy.

[1] Until February 2008 the administration of Strandfaraskip Landsins was located in Tórshavn, but in 2007 Jacob Vestergaard, then-Minister of Internal Affairs, moved it to Tvøroyri on the island of Suðuroy.

This served to decentralise jobs in the public sector and was a kind reminder of Strandfaraskip Landsins' roots in Suðuroy.

[3] The crossing over Suðuroyarfjørður takes two hours and five minutes in normal weather and swell conditions, though especially in winter trips are often cancelled or severely delayed.

[4] It is common for Suðuroyingar to stay at friends or family in Tórshavn during weekdays, though others commute on a more-or-less daily basis.

[5] The frequency has been topic of extensive public and political debate, where the islanders would be served best with three trips a day whereas the Faroese government also is concerned about the cost-efficiency.

Since the Sandoyartunnilin opened in December 2023, Smyril could possibly reroute and use Sandur as its northern terminus, which would reduce the crossing distance down to 38 kilometres (24 mi).

[11] Her maiden voyage was delayed due to misfitting ramps in Tórshavn and Nólsoy, especially at high and low tide.

On the first official day of service, swell-related vibrations shattered several windows, leaving the ferry out of order for weeks.

It also raised questionmarks around Strandfaraskip Landsins' credibility, which at the same time was accused of being little forthcoming with its network redesign in response to the new Eysturoyartunnilin.