The Hamburg Sandtorhafen
It all started on the initiative of the Hamburg Chamber of Crafts. Friends and supporters of the port resolved to secure the city's maritime heritage and make it accessible to the public. That was the hour of birth of the foundation, which has since placed the original port locations from the imperial era under protection and restored them.
The rescue of various watercraft can also be traced back to the foundation's commitment. The restoration of the twelve "Heti" and the cruiser "Artemis" became known in sailing circles beyond the city limits. Today the anniversary celebrations took place in front of the listed storage shed of the foundation in the free port.
12 mR yacht "Heti"
It was supposed to be a celebration of joy, and the 1,000 or so volunteers had worked really hard over the past ten years. Because, according to Gert Hinnerk Behlmer, Chairman of the Advisory Board: Where other foundations take care of the sensible distribution of the existing assets, Hamburg Maritim still has to earn the money for the good foundation's purpose itself.
That could be in question in the future. Because the concept, restoration and passing on to sponsoring associations, is based on the cooperation with the employment agency Jugend in Arbeit e. V. And he is about to end. Due to imminent cuts in funding for employment promotion measures by the federal government, the association, which has had a shipyard and workshops in the Harburg inland port for 28 years, has to file for bankruptcy.
Only the public sector could help. Because it is a matter of filling a hole of around 150,000 euros per month. "Despite all efforts through internal restructuring and various cooperation talks with other organizations, there is a risk of insolvency without the support of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg," said Winfrid Schwehn, chairman of the Jugend in Arbeit Hamburg e. V.
More information here