55 years running from the same engine
During this year’ s Pentecost weekend the MS Stadt Kiel e.V. Society celebrated the 75th anniversary of its famous ferry boat with a big ‘ open ship’ event at Kiel’ s jetty Seegartenbrü cke.
It was not far from the spot where the newly built vessel had been launched at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft on 26 May 1934. Being celebrated at the same time was the 55th service aniversary of the MaK 8 MAu 423 marine diesel engine dating to1954. Caterpillar Marine Power Systems (CMPS) is actively supporting the operation and maintenance of the historic vessel by being a member of the sponsoring Society.
The ‘Stadt Kiel’ was built for regular service on the Kiel fjord.
After being sunk in World War II and rehabilitated in Denmark, the vessel was again deployed by the public transport company Kieler Verkehrs AG (KVAG) on the route between the central railway station and the coastal resort of Strande. On its way, the Stadt Kiel also regularly passed the Friedrichsort jetty located directly at the factory
premises of the then MaK Maschinenbau Kiel AG.
In 1954 the original Krupp diesel engine of type S II 6, a six cylinder four stroke delivering 300 hp, was replaced by the current, more powerful MaK 8 MAu 423 engine. This directly reversible eight cylinder four stroke delivers 520hp at
375rpm and has been providing reliable propulsion power for 55 years now.
A fascinating feature of this engine from today’s point of view is its freely visible, still uncowled valve stems and rocker arms. With a cylinder diameter of 290mm and a piston stroke of 420mm, the MaK MAu 423 engine has a swept volume of 27.7 l/cylinder. In spite of its reliable propulsion system the vessel was taken out of service by the KVAG in 1976.
After a continuing odyssey with diverse moorings and different private owners, the Stadt Kiel was finally taken over by the Society in 1983. It was presented to the public for the first time at the Kiel Week international sailing event of that year.
After a basic overhaul at the Hamburg based Jöhnk shipyard, the museum ship was finally put into service again in 1990. Although only running for about 500 hours per year, regular maintenance is required to keep the ship serviceable. Cooperation between the Society and the then Krupp MaK Maschinenbau GmbH developed in connection with the maintenance of the MaK 8 MAu 423 engine.
One of the joint actions was the cylinder liner and cylinder head overhaul in 1991/92. In 1998 all cylinders were refurbished in the factory, complete with liners, pistons and bearings. Today’s Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG is actively supporting the operation of the vessel by leasing it for company events.
