Status: 04.10.2021 12:59 p.m.
The German Navy’s sailing training ship, the “Gorch Fock”, is returning to its home port in Kiel today after almost six years of complete renovation. Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer goes on board for the last nautical miles.
With the return of the “Gorch Fock”, a voyage that almost would have been the last of the sailing training ship ends.
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Presumably, at the end of 2015, no one had thought that a regular overhaul of the ship would develop into a scandal that would lead to a shipyard bankruptcy, corruption, public prosecutor investigations, possible proceedings at the Federal Constitutional Court and costs that got completely out of hand. At that time the calls for a new building were very loud, but the “Gorch Fock” also survived this storm.
Connected to the city of Kiel
In addition to the numerous negative headlines, the ship is also an icon. For example, the “Gorch Fock” stamped the back of the 10 D-Mark note for decades. In addition, the sailing training ship stands for adventure, cosmopolitanism and has been deeply connected to the city of Kiel for decades, and not only because of the windjammer parade at the end of the Kieler Woche.
Commander: “Gorch Fock” drives well
Commander of the barque, Nils Brandt, is satisfied with the completely renovated ship. As a result of the extensive renovation, the 89-meter-long three-master has become significantly lighter – with a total weight saving of more than 70 tons.
“It drives very well. The movements in the sea have improved. […] It rolls more comfortably in the sea and ultimately behaves much smoother when moving. ”
Nils Brandt, Commander of the “Gorch Fock”
The joy of returning is great
Looking forward to the “Gorch Fock”: Schleswig-Holstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Günther.
Schleswig-Holstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU), for example, is also very happy about the return home, as the country has been closely associated with the “Gorch Fock” for over 65 years: “The sailing training ship is not only Germany’s floating ambassador on all the world’s oceans on the way, but also the landmark and calling card of our federal state and the state capital Kiel. “
Mayor Ulf Kämper (SPD) also sees it this way. For him the “Gorch Fock” is a real anchor of identity and belongs to the city like the THW Kiel or the Kieler Woche: “The ‘Gorch Fock’ is probably the most famous ship in Germany. We are Kiel Sailing City and there is the ship a very important mosaic stone for identity. ” In the coming year, the state parliament in Schleswig-Holstein will celebrate 40 years of sponsorship for the “Gorch Fock”. This also shows how important the ship is for the country, according to Landtag President Klaus Schlie (CDU): “We are proud of the sponsorship across all party lines.”
Gun salute for the barque
Those interested can take a first look at the almost newly built “Gorch Fock” in Eckernförde Bay. Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU) went on board there in the morning to drive with the crew members to Kiel’s home port. After the ship and crew have passed the memorial in Laboe, they should go to the Kiel-Wik naval base at 2 p.m. For many people in the state capital, this will not just be a visual experience.
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After passing the base, five howitzers are supposed to fire a gun salute from a pier. Onlookers should probably best position themselves along the keel line and the state parliament. Because the sailing ship will sail up to the height of the seat of government and make a turning maneuver there. Then the barque moored at the renamed Gorch-Fock-Mole, which was still called Tirpitz-Mole until Thursday.
Taxpayers’ Association is expecting millions more
But there are critical voices. In its annually published black book, the taxpayers’ association has repeatedly denounced the cost of renovating the ship, which recently rose to 135 million euros. Above all, the non-profit association fears that millions more will have to flow into the “Gorch Fock” in the coming years. “A framework contract is now to be awarded. After that, the ‘Gorch Fock’ is supposed to go to the shipyard every two and a half years for about six months,” said Rainer Kersten, managing director of the Schleswig-Holstein branch of the Taxpayers’ Association.
He also criticizes the fact that the various scandals have not yet been dealt with: “There was definitely bribery, there were allegations of infidelity against a shipyard and it has not yet been clarified what role the navy played in this, even against the background that the Navy lied to the then defense ministers about ‘Gorch Fock’. ” From the point of view of the association, a cheaper new building was prevented.
Protests planned by conservationists
The nature conservation organization WWF also wants to critically accompany the return. A planned protest concerns allegedly illegally harvested tropical wood that is said to have been installed on the “Gorch Fock”. Most recently, the WWF approached the Federal Constitutional Court with an urgent application so that it could be checked whether it was illegal tropical timber. So far, according to the conservationists, the responsible Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food, which is subordinate to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, has refused to look at the import documents.
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