The Molenturm is one of the few historic buildings in Bremerhaven that survived the war. Now he is threatened with wear and tear. At least the brick tower with the red dome is dangerously crooked. The reason: the north mole has lowered, the mole head on which the tower was built a good 100 years ago tilted as a result. The tower leans badly to one side.
Many Bremerhaven residents are concerned about the fate of the small landmark. “It goes to the soul of the city,” said Volker Trimkowski, managing director of the Wulsdorf water sports club, of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. Anger mixed in with the sadness, because the disaster was foreseeable. Access to the listed building has been blocked since 2015. “For years I have urgently pointed out to those responsible in the Senate and at Bremenports the need to renovate the north pier, but unfortunately nothing visible has happened,” says Bremerhaven’s Lord Mayor Melf Grantz (SPD) angrily.
Bremerhaven: drop the mole tower in a controlled manner?
But first, what can be saved should be saved. A crane is to lift off the cupola of the lopsided tower. This is said to weigh about five tons. It should be secured during transport with three load straps. Then it has to be clarified whether the tower will also be demolished or whether it will be allowed to fall over in a controlled manner. Whether controlled or not: a tumbling pier tower will hurt the Bremerhaven soul in any case.
With material from DPA