Before moving to the Schlachte: the "Alexander von Humboldt" at her stopover in the Europahafen in Bremen
The tears of the regular crew flowed when it became known that the sailing training ship "Alexander von Humboldt" would be decommissioned. For real "Alex" fans it should have become more emotional today: The three-masted barque known from Becks advertising was moved to its final berth on the "Schlachte" promenade in Bremen for the time being.
The traditional ship, which was once sailing under green sails, has been in the city's Europahafen since April 2015. Investor Heiko Rataj had it converted into a restaurant and hotel ship and has been operating it since then under the name "Alexander von Humboldt - Das Schiff". Bremen's city center was always intended as a long-term berth, but the pier not far from the Martinikirche first had to be extended by a pontoon and dredged. Today's "moving date" was postponed from summer to autumn 2016.
In order for the barque, built in 1906 as a lightship, to tow under three bridges, all three masts had to be laid and the jib boom dismantled. For this purpose, the "Alexander von Humboldt" was hauled into the industrial port of Bremen, where the masts were pulled last week.
Drop anchor - for the last time?
Today at noon the "green lady", the name of the former regular crew for the ship, then arrived at the Weser promenade in Bremen. Now the masts have to be set up again. The restaurant and hotel operations on board should reopen in a good two weeks.