Sailship work points up German know how
Alexander von Humboldt is famous for its distinctive green sails.
Repair and maintenance work on two of the best known sail training ships afloat is once again calling upon hard to beat traditional know how in an otherwise struggling German shipbuilding industry.
As MJ went to press, the two three masted, steel hulled German built ships involved were unusually idle. The 81.2m long, 12m wide Gorch Fock was in drydock at Lindenau Schiffswerft in Kiel awaiting extensive repair. The 62.55m long, 8m wide Alexander von Humboldtwas docked and undergoing overhaul and repair at the Bremerhavener Dockbetrieb (BREDO).
Gorch Fock, a 53 year old naval training ship built by Blohm + Voss, arrived at Lindenau last October. The German Navy originally said it would be there five days for routine overhaul, including zinc anode replacement and hull coating repair. However, later inspection revealed that more extensive repair was needed and that it will cost over €1m.
Reports said nine shipyards bid for the job. Berlin finally awarded it to the Elsflether Werft, which has overhauled the ship before. Hard pressed Lindenau had been hoping to win the contract because it has been insolvent since 2008 and is fighting to stay afloat with repair.
Meanwhile, the 106 year old Alexander von Humboldt was due to cruise the Caribbean after completing overhaul at BREDO. Built at the now defunct Bremer Vulkan, the vessel is famous for its distinctive green sails.
It was sold recently by the German Sail Training Foundation (DSST) to a group of Bremerhaven businessmen after being succeeded by Alexander von Humboldt 11. The new ship was built at BVT, which is on the same Bremer Vulkan site which produced the original vessel and still has the same giant production hall.
The Captain of the Alexander von Humboldt,Harald Meier, told MJ that underwater hull maintenance and outer hull painting was being carried out on the old Alex “to make the ship fit for her last Atlantic crossing.”
By Tom Todd
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