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From record building to scrap: The sad fate of the EGF-321 ships
Discover the history of the EGF-321 railway ferries, which were built in the GDR and have historical significance today.
From record building to scrap: The sad fate of the EGF-321 ships
In the 1980s, the GDR experienced a real record in the maritime industry with the construction of the EGF-321 rail ferries. These impressive ships were not only the largest railway ferries in the world, but also the largest ever constructed in the GDR. Five ships were built between 1984 and 1989 at the Mathias Thesen shipyard in Wismar, while another project could never be realized due to political circumstances. Today, in 2025, the state of this once proud fleet is a shadow of its past: the “Mukran”, the first ship, was already scrapped in India in 2021, and changes are also expected for the remaining ships. Northern Courier reports on these developments.
The EGF-321 type was originally designed for freight transport on the Mukran-Klaipėda route and was designed to transport goods, primarily of a military nature. With their two continuous railway decks, a circumference of almost 190.5 meters and a capacity of 103 freight cars, the ships were technologically advanced. Particularly noteworthy are the double-decker ramps, which enabled efficient loading and unloading. The planned journey times were between 18 and 20 hours in each direction, with the ships being designed to be in port for around four hours. The fact that they made it into the Guinness Book of Records because of their size and concept shows the importance of these ships in the history of maritime technology. Wikipedia offers further information.
Political upheavals and transformation
The political changes after 1989 led to serious changes in the use of the EGF-321 ships. Many ideas from the original plans fell by the wayside. The “Mukran”, for example, was converted for passenger transport in 1995 and used as the “Petersburg” between Travemünde and Saint Petersburg. She was also used to transport military equipment in the Adriatic. The “Klaipeda”, another ship in the fleet, started in 1987, but changed ownership and area of operation several times after the political upheaval, known among others as “Celtic Mist” and “Aziz Express”. Wikipedia impressively describes the eventful history of these ships.
Of the five EGF-321s built, four ships are still active today. The “Vilnyus” still sails in the Black Sea today, while the “Greifswald” was rebuilt in 1994 and now operates under the name “Antey” between Ust-Luga and Baltijsk. The youngest ship, the “Kaunas”, is in operation between Algeciras and Tanger Med. The original construction, which was optimized militarily and economically, impressively shows how the maritime industry has transformed over time to adapt to the circumstances.
The journey of these ships reflects the complex structure of the GDR's history, the transition after 1990 and the adjustments of the following years. It remains to be seen what further fate awaits the remaining ships and how the maritime landscape in northern Germany will continue to be shaped.