From the maritime city of Bremerhaven to the museum

Bremerhaven and the SEUTE DEERN - that is a special relationship. Soon after the ship has moored in the Old Port, numerous weddings and family celebrations take place on board - cherished memories that ensure the barque a firm place in the hearts of many maritime townspeople. Time and again the SEUTE DEERN is referred to as the landmark of Bremerhaven. In 1972, the barque was donated to the German Maritime Museum as a founding gift of the city. For a landmark, however, the last wooden tall ship in Europe was already in a less than ideal condition at that time. An expert report from 1976, one year after the opening of the DSM, showed that the entire deck including deck beams, the outer skin, the stern transom and parts of the internal structures had decayed.

In addition to the City of Bremerhaven, which donates the SEUTE DEERN to the DSM, the Board of Trustees for the Promotion of the German Maritime Museum e.V. is contributing the lightship ELBE 3, the whaling ship RAU IX and the salvage tug SEEFALKE to the museum harbour. In the deed of foundation the state of Bremen and the city of Bremerhaven commit themselves to pay for the preservation of the ships. Nevertheless, the annual budget funds provided to the DSM by the founders and the lease income from the restaurant operations are not sufficient to repair and maintain the SEUTE DEERN and the other ships and objects in the Museum Harbour. Tediously obtained special public grants and donations from the Supporters' Association and other supporters are always necessary to repair the worst of the damage. However, there is not enough money for a fundamental restoration. Bremerhaven and the SEUTE DEERN - that is a special relationship. Soon after the ship has moored in the Old Port, numerous weddings and family celebrations take place on board - cherished memories that ensure the barque a firm place in the hearts of many maritime townspeople. Time and again the SEUTE DEERN is referred to as the landmark of Bremerhaven. In 1972, the barque was donated to the German Maritime Museum as a founding gift of the city. For a landmark, however, the last wooden tall ship in Europe was already in a less than ideal condition at that time. An expert report from 1976, one year after the opening of the DSM, showed that the entire deck including deck beams, the outer skin, the stern transom and parts of the internal structures had decayed.

In addition to the City of Bremerhaven, which donates the SEUTE DEERN to the DSM, the Board of Trustees for the Promotion of the German Maritime Museum e.V. is contributing the lightship ELBE 3, the whaling ship RAU IX and the salvage tug SEEFALKE to the museum harbour. In the deed of foundation the state of Bremen and the city of Bremerhaven commit themselves to pay for the preservation of the ships. Nevertheless, the annual budget funds provided to the DSM by the founders and the lease income from the restaurant operations are not sufficient to repair and maintain the SEUTE DEERN and the other ships and objects in the Museum Harbour. Tediously obtained special public grants and donations from the Supporters' Association and other supporters are always necessary to repair the worst of the damage. However, there is not enough money for a fundamental restoration.