Rostock Maritime Museum on the brink of closure: Huge renovation costs are looming!

Rostock Maritime Museum on the brink of closure: Huge renovation costs are looming!

A shadow spreads over the old shipping museum in Rostock, which, as the Societät Rostock maritime, plays an important role in regional culture. Today it was announced that the historic building is scheduled to close at the end of 2025. The responsible committee of the KOE (Municipal Property Management and Development) voted in favor of this difficult decision after a report revealed significant construction defects and damage to the building.

The list of defects is long and worrying: cracks in the facade, deformed load-bearing elements and a heavily damp wall are just some of the weak points found. Fire protection and stability also leave a lot to be desired, which is not least due to the building's gravel base. Immediate action was taken by locking down an exhibition room to ensure the safety of visitors.

A decision is pending

The operating association Societät Rostock maritim is now asked to leave the building by November 30, 2025. The city administration is faced with the challenge of deciding whether to invest in the renovation of the historic walls or sell the building. The estimate of the renovation costs at at least 31 million euros will undoubtedly have a significant influence on the decision.

The shipping museum was not only a place for education and encounters, but also a popular destination for visitors. The exhibition “From Today to Tomorrow” by photographer Manfred Scharnberg, which documents changes in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania over 30 years, is currently attracting visitors. This exhibition runs until July 26, 2025, with a special tour by the artist on June 21, 2025 at 11 a.m. There is also a photo exhibition by Klaus Ender in the museum, which is open to those interested until the end of September 2025.

Cultural heritage in danger

In addition to the temporary exhibitions, the Societät Rostock maritim houses a variety of permanent maritime exhibitions that keep the maritime history of the region alive. The model of the icebreaker “Stephan Jantzen”, various collections of amber objects and the traveling exhibition on water aviation are waiting to be discovered by school classes, families and interested parties. Such offers are not only valuable, but also contribute to the cultural identity of the region, which needs solid support, especially in times of change and uncertainty.

The decision about the future of the maritime museum is not only a question of structural preservation, but also a question of the cultural heritage that needs to be preserved. Further information about the Societät Rostock maritim and its current exhibitions can be found on its official website srm-hro.de and on the museum's website schifffahrtsmuseum-rostock.de.

The coming period will show whether and how the city of Rostock will meet the challenges. One thing is certain: the closure of the museum would not only have a severe impact on local culture, but also on many visitors and local clubs.