A piece of history at sea: The Astarte celebrates comeback in Bremerhaven!

A piece of history at sea: The Astarte celebrates comeback in Bremerhaven!

A maritime jewel is currently on course in Bremerhaven: the HF 244 "Astarte". This traditional ship, over 120 years old, is celebrated in his hometown as part of the "maritime days". The event, which takes place from August 14 to 18, 2024, wants to present the Maritime Culture and shipping traditionally.

The “Astarte” focuses on, not only because of their age, but also through their impressive history of restoration. The cutter, who was built in Hamburg-Finkenwerder in 1903, is considered one of the last of its kind and was extended by the Schiffergilde Bremen to its original condition.

restoration and preservation of tradition

Current work has brought the "Astarte" up to a new technical status. In autumn and winter 2023, both masts were rebuilt and installed to the ship in April 2024. The “Astartte” was originally active in the fish business until 1952 before it was rebuilt in Wilhelmshaven and was wrong.

The Schiffergilde Bremen, founded in 1978, acquired the "Astarte" in a greatly changed state and rely on original plans from the Altona Museum during the restoration. The experts used old drawings and models to reconstruct the cutter as precisely as possible. In 2002 the restoration was finally completed, in which modern navigation aids were installed, among other things.

a lively story on the waters

With its length of 27 meters and a width of 6.1 meters, the "Astarte" offers space for up to nine guests and five crew members, which particularly appeals to young people who can experience the maritime culture up close here on board. Her trademark, the original finchwerder fish marking "HF 244", remains a sign of her history as a fishing ship.

Since the beginning of June 2024, the "Astarte" has been on tour for eight weeks and wipes across the German Bay and the Baltic Sea. The cutter found in Laboe during the Kiel Week and is now heading for Bremerhaven to take part in the maritime days, where more than 80 ships and numerous concerts will attract a large number of visitors.

The purely maritime meaning of the ship is underpinned by its crucial role in the cultural identity of the region and the shipping tradition of Germany. With up to 250,000 euros invested in receipt, the Schiffergilde is dependent on donations in order to continue to maintain this piece of history. You can find more information about the "Astarte" and your travels in a comprehensive report on www.merkur.de .