With its slightly curved steel hull and golden decorated bow, the "Schaarhörn" from 1908 is a particularly elegant-looking ship at 42 metres in length. The steamer evacuated refugees in 1945 and has been a museum ship since 1995. There is a reason for the ship's stylish appearance: the "Schaarhörn" was originally intended to take illustrious guests such as Kaiser Wilhelm II through Hamburg harbour. The then Office for Electricity and Harbour Construction commissioned the steamer in 1907, also to use the ship as a sounding steamer for measuring water depths on the Elbe.
Ringelnatz caricature 'Kuttel-Daddeldu'. Graphic: Ringelnatz Foundation / public domain
But this did not happen at first. After the outbreak of the First World War, the Imperial Navy used the coal-fired twin-screw steamer to search for mines. Joachim Ringelnatz was also frequently on board during this time. The poet (sailor Kuttel Daddeldu), who had volunteered for the navy right at the start of the war, celebrated his promotion to lieutenant on the ship in 1917 and became commander of a minesweeper.
Timetable
After the First World War, the "Schaarhörn" is temporarily used as a housing and catering ship for the workers' and soldiers' council in Cuxhaven. She was laid up in 1919 and not put back into service until 1925 - in her original role as a "sounding steamer" in the Elbe estuary. From March 1945, the steamship evacuated refugees from Saßnitz, Swinemünde and various East Prussian towns. The "Schaarhörn" was then used again as a sounding and surveying ship in the Elbe estuary near Cuxhaven until 1972.
Surveyor on the steamship "Schaarhörn" (undated photo). Photo: Hamburg Maritime Foundation
In 1973, the steamer was sold to Newcastle (north-east England) and transferred to Maryport (Cumberland) in the north-west of England in 1979. There, the "Schaarhörn" was to become an exhibit in a future museum harbour. But instead, the ship fell into disrepair. In 1990, the Commerz-Collegium Altona, an association of Altona merchants, finally bought the ship and had it piggybacked back to Hamburg. There, the steamer was restored as part of a job creation programme for young people and five years later was handed over to the DS SCHAARHÖRN e.V. association as its owner, which later changed its name to Dampfer SCHAARHÖRN e.V.
Transfer of the "Schaarhörn" to Hamburg by dock ship in 1990. Photo: Friends of the steamship SCHAARHÖRN e.V.
Museum ship
Since 1995, the "Schaarhörn" has been in operation as a travelling traditional ship with two triple expansion steam engines, each with 412 hpi (internal power). It has been owned by the Hamburg Maritime Foundation since 2002 and the travelling museum is run by an all-volunteer crew. That's why the helping hands of other volunteers are always welcome. During the season from May to October, the "Schaarhörn" regularly invites guests to take part in cruises on the Elbe with a maximum of 85 passengers. Thanks to these trips, the running costs for the maintenance of the ship are financed. The beautiful historic Art Nouveau saloon with its large windows is still a reminder that the ship was originally intended primarily to sail honourable guests of the city through the harbour.
Restoration of the "Schaarhörn" in the shipyard in 1993. Photo: Friends of the steamship SCHAARHÖRN e.V.
The ship can be visited from 11:00 to 16:00 during guest cruises and on Sundays from May to the end of October. Admission is free. And Ringelnatz events are of course also organised. During their stay on board, guests have the opportunity to explore the well-maintained ship. The priceless view of the engine room and boiler room transports you back to a bygone era with polished brass and a lovely smell of oil.
Further information can be found on the ship's website:
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