New launches join Hamburg tour fleet
A second new port passenger launch with advanced eco-friendly features was entering service on Hamburg’s more than 40 square kilometer port network in June.
The 20m long and 6.5m wide Hanna Abicht is the latest launch in a 27 strong fleet of various sizes operated by the Rainer Abicht Elbreederei, and the second of a “new generation” of port launches for Abicht, which also has boats to charter for weddings, parties and business events. It describes itself as the biggest charter and port tour company in the Port of Hamburg and says its newest boats mean it also has the most modern and up-to-date fleet.
Abicht is just one of several offering popular passenger launch tours of the busy port and its terminals and shipyards, where approaching 140 million tons of cargo are handled every year.
More than six million tourists visit Hamburg annually, a figure that has risen by about 5% a year in recent years. At last word some 80 tour launches were in operation to serve them.
Hanna Abicht and its predecessor Til Abicht, which went into service in May, were built by Hamburg’s Feltz Werft in Finkenwerder and each carries a maximum of 130 passengers. Reports said the new boats together cost about €2.6 million, draw 1.15m and are propelled by MAN Type 2866 LXE 401 main Diesels with 190kW output at 1800 rpm. They also have Mitsubishi SMS auxiliary diesels with intercoolers on board of 46kW output.
Abicht says they meet the latest environmental requirements including Europe’s ZKR 3 emission standard which is not required until 2018. It also notes that its new boats utilise discharged engine warmth to heat interiors and Feltz Werft official Dragon Botic was quoted as saying this reduced fuel consumption by as much as 13%.
Hanna Abicht and Til Abicht are both so-called “cellar” tour launches. Passengers sit behind glass and are below the water line. In warm weather the glass roof can be opened to two thirds of the boats length.
The latest duo took a year to build and Abicht Managing Director Nico Berg praised the Feltz Werft yard for its “excellent and smooth-running production”.
With the introduction of Hanna Abicht, the company will operate 10 passenger boats and 17 port excursion launches. The biggest ship in the fleet is the 56m stern paddle steamer Louisiana Star, carrying 500 passengers. The latest boat to enter service with the family owned concern prior to the recent two new launches has been the 33.5m long and 6.5m wide Klein Fritzchen.
The bigger boat also has a low-emission MAN 190kW engine as well as a Schottel rudder propeller in the stern and also a 70kW SPJ 22 Pumpjet in the bow.
By Tom Todd
