Return of the SCHAARHÖRN to the traditional port

Historic steamship Schaarhörn returns to the traditional port

On Monday, October 14, 2024, the historic steamship Schaarhörn was moved from its berth in the Hansahafen, Bremer Kai, back to its previous location in the traditional harbor at the Magellan Terraces in HafenCity. It was towed by the historic tugboat Kay and accompanied by the pusher boat Karin . The move took the ship under the Mahatma Gandhi bascule bridge at the Elbphilharmonie, an event worth seeing for maritime lovers and visitors to HafenCity.

The Schaarhörn – a steamship with tradition

The Schaarhörn , built in 1908 at the Reiherstieg shipyard in Hamburg, is an important example of steam shipping in the early 20th century. Originally designed as a representative ship for the Hamburg Senate, she was later used as a survey ship/sounding steamer. During the First World War, the ship served in military operations. After several decades and various uses, the Schaarhörn was extensively restored in the 1990s and returned to her original condition.

The Schaarhörn is 41.6 metres long and is powered by two triple expansion steam engines, which are still in operation. These engines represent an impressive example of the engineering skills of the time. Today the ship is a floating museum that introduces visitors to the technology and history of steam shipping.

The historic tugboat Kay

The tug Kay , which supported the Schaarhörn on its return journey to the traditional port, was built in 1922 at the Stülcken shipyard as a steam tug and converted to a motor ship at the Oelckers shipyard in 1963. With a length of around 19 meters and an output of around 330 hp, the Kay was originally designed for heavy towing tasks in the port of Hamburg and on the Elbe. The tug is still in use today and is regularly used for maritime events and tasks. It is a testament to the robust construction and reliability of the tugs of that time.