Captain Meyer: Return as a technical monument in Wilhelmshaven!

Captain Meyer: Return as a technical monument in Wilhelmshaven!

Finally there is good news for fans of maritime history in Wilhelmshaven: The steam buoy ship “Captain Meyer” is returning after a long port odyssey and is to be stationed as a museum ship in the newly built museum harbor at the Coastal Museum. This important technical monument is receiving support of over three million euros from the “KulturInvest” funding program to finance its restoration and conversion into a tangible museumship. NWZ Online reports that restoration work will begin after the ship is moved to a shipyard to empty it for the planned operations.

The “Kapitän Meyer”, a former buoy layer, has an eventful history behind her. The ship was built between 1949 and 1950 at the Seebeck shipyard in Bremerhaven as the first new buoy-layer in Germany after the Second World War. It was named after the captain of the sunken buoy ship “Wik”. Initially subordinate to the Tönning Waterways and Shipping Office, the “Kapitän Meyer” was used as a buoy laying vessel on the North Sea for decades before it was decommissioned in 1983. The following year, the Klaus Störtebeker sailing community took over the ship and made it available as a restaurant ship. Wikipedia gives a deep insight into the detailed history of the steamship.

New perspectives in the museum harbor

After more than a year at various berths, including the Großer Hafen and the Nordostkai, the plans for the future installation in the museum harbor are concrete. The Technical Operations Wilhelmshaven (TBW) is already creating service specifications in order to initiate the next steps. Interestingly, the ship will not only serve to convey the historical value of shipping; it will also provide insights into port issues and the energy industry. The Friends of the Museum Harbor will support the restoration measures constructively.

This not only opens a new chapter in the history of the ship, but also brings a breath of fresh air into the maritime landscape of Wilhelmshaven. The 'Kapitän Meyer' is considered a real landmark. It is the first ship built in the Federal Republic of Germany after the Second World War and now faces the challenge of regaining greater attention in its new role as a living technical monument.

Bringing a historical legacy back to life

Over the years, the ship had various berths and lost some of its popularity. But the planned stationing in the museum harbor should change that and offer the beautiful steam buoy ship a stage that corresponds to its importance. With the necessary restoration work, the “Kapitän Meyer” is moving ever closer to the public, and it is hoped that visitors will soon be able to marvel at the ship again.

The private initiative, in conjunction with the support of the city, shows once again that commitment and refreshing a maritime past can definitely pay off. Wilhelmshaven is relying on the continued existence of its maritime traditions and a vibrant future on the water.