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Maritime Days 2021 in Bremerhaven
The Maritime Days 2021 took place in Bremerhaven in August under special conditions. What was planned as the Lütte Sail 2021 (Small Sail) and finally had to be canceled because of the corona pandemic, developed into a small maritime event with some special sailing ships. In delimited adventure islands with sonorous names, such as the "Habour pub", the "Music shipyard", the "Open-air galley", the "Wine deck", the "Sand bank" or the "Buccaneer Island", all in the area of the so-called Havenwelten in Bremerhaven, a varied program looked forward to the visitors: music, cabaret performances, food and drinks.
Maritime Days 2021
View from the top of the Maritime Days 2021 Bremerhaven
Sailing ships at the tip of the harbor
Which sailing ships were there at the Maritime Days 2021 in Bremerhaven?
Large, well-known sailing ships such as the "Dar Mlodziezy" from Poland, the "Christian Radich" from Norway and the German sail training ship "Alexander von Humboldt 2" were there. A very special attraction and one reason why I wanted to be there in Bremerhaven was the replica of a Spanish galleon from the 17th century. At that time such sailing ships formed the backbone of the sea trade from Europe to America or to Southeast Asia. After its commissioning as a visitor attraction and floating evidence of seafaring history the "El Galeón" visited many port cities overseas. Now she came, together with the former Spanish merchant ship "Pascual Flores" to Bremerhaven too.
Kamper Hanzekogge
Traditional craft
Hanseatic cogs in front of the German Emigration Center
The "Kamper Hanzekogge", which together with the "Ubena von Bremen" was in front of the German Emigration Center in Bremerhaven, was presented very attractively.
The crew of the sailing ship succeeded in bringing the history to life through their own costumes and display of trade and craftsmanship from the Hanseatic era, which also went perfectly
with the type of ship Hansekogge.
A small fleet of Dutch charter ships was also there in Bremerhaven. However, compared to other events, fewer guest trips were offered. I took my chance and of course I wanted to go to
the "big pots". On board the "Vegesack BV2" I went out onto the river Weser and along the Bremerhaven container port.
The steamships "Wal" and "Welle" could also be seen and I was on board there.
El Galeón and Pascual Flores
Maritime Days 2021 in the evening
Maritime Days 2021
Of course there sailing ships with figure heads
again, this time the "Christian Radich", "Alexander von Humboldt 2", "Großherzogin Elizabeth" and "Mare Frisium".
I left Bremerhaven satisfied. On the way back, of course I stopped by at the "Schulschiff Deutschland" in Vegesack. The relocation of the sailing ship to Bremerhaven
took place shortly afterwards. Here they hope for more attention.
Christian Radich at the Maritime Days 2021
Neuer Hafen Bremerhaven
Ready for Open Ship
Schulschiff Deutschland
Sailing ships in Bremerhaven
Skyline of Bremerhaven
Looking forward to the coming year is allowed: another Lütte Sail will take place in Bremerhaven in 2022.
The tour to the "big pots"
A harbor trip in BremerhavenDuring the Maritime Days I went on board the "Vegesack BV2", a former herring logger that was built on the river Weser before the turn of the century in 1895. The skipper told us about the history of herring fishing with these ships and the conditions on board while we waited at the lock in the Neuer Hafen for the exit. Today the "Vegesack BV2" takes sailing guests on board, and a volunteer crew takes care for them in order to generate the funds necessary for the maintenance of the ship.
Vegesack BV2
When the lock gate at the Neuer Hafen opens, it is not long to go to the "big pots" anymore. The world's largest container ships moor at the Stromkaje. With a length of almost five kilometers, the Bremerhaven Stromkaje is one of the longest contiguous quay structures in the world. Container ships with a length of 400m and a loading capacity of more than 20,000 containers are not uncommon in Bremerhaven. Under sails we passed "Maastricht Maersk", "Mayview Maersk" and "Vuoksi Maersk", several ships from other shipping companies and smaller feeder ships. Also impressive was the large car transporter that overtook us on its way to the Bremerhaven car terminal.
Dicke-Pötte-Tour
Container ships at the Stromkaje
Stromkaje Bremerhaven
On our way back, the captain quickly met the sandbanks where seals lie in the sun when the water is low. Instead of the sun, however, there was soon that promised heavy downpour. Nevertheless, before we returned to the port, we had an impressive view of the Bremerhaven skyline.