With the handover of the GORCH FOCK to the German Navy, Lürssen has successfully completed the refit of the sail training ship after around two years in the shipyard.
The Bremen-based family business took over the project in October 2019 and overhauled the ship on the basis of a comprehensively re-evaluated performance specification.
"Every Ship handover is characterised by emotions and, above all, fills the employees who accompany a project for months and contribute to its success with pride. All the more so when it is a project with numerous technical challenges, difficult framework conditions and an ambitious schedule, as in the case of the GORCH FOCK is a matter of course," says Tim Wagner, Managing Director of Lürssen shipyard. "Our project team and all the partner companies and subcontractors involved have managed to breathe life back into an empty steel hull in less than two years, and to GORCH FOCK under sail. This is a special achievement, which was also made possible thanks to the trusting cooperation with the ship's command, the naval arsenal and all responsible departments."
The GORCH FOCK has been undergoing final outfitting at the Wilhelmshaven naval base since the beginning of September. During this phase, numerous trials were carried out, such as craning tests, testing of the radio and navigation equipment and shipyard test runs. At the same time, the German Navy brought its equipment on board.
The ship was built under the direction of Lürssen equipped with new masts and yards as well as a completely new pipe system, new insulation and new interior and exterior paintwork. In addition, the drive system and generators were repaired, most of the interior fittings were replaced and the air conditioning and ventilation systems were adapted.
As Lürssen took over the barque, this was a way out of a difficult situation for the navy. The insolvency of the shipyard responsible up to this point caused construction to be halted for a long time. The construction documents were incomplete and numerous corrections had to be made to the shipbuilding work. This was compounded by coronavirus, which led to staff shortages and delivery delays.
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Unfortunately no current photo. This is not the restored Gorch Fock. She has been sailing under engine and not under sail since Wilhelmshafen, across the North Sea, round Skagen and now towards the Great Belt. There were southerly winds on the North Sea. Why is the new ship running with the auxiliary engine? It is a three-masted barque and not a steamer. 'Under sail again' is unfortunately the wrong heading.