Rickmer Rickmers

The Rickmer Rickmers is a historic three-masted steel cargo sailing ship that now serves as a museum ship at the St. Pauli Landungsbrücken (St. Pauli Piers) in the Port of Hamburg. The ship was built in Bremerhaven in 1896 as a full-rigged ship and named after the shipowner's grandson. After an eventful history that included losing a mast in a hurricane, being sold to a Hamburg shipping company, and being confiscated by Portugal during World War I, it served as a sail training ship for the Portuguese Navy from 1924. In 1983, the aging vessel was purchased by a Hamburg association and, after extensive restoration, reopened to the public under its original name. Visitors can tour the ship and climb the standing rigging to a height of 30 meters (about 98 feet) for sweeping views over the harbor. The Rickmer Rickmers Foundation, which operates the landmark, also awards the title of Honorary Captain for outstanding service.