Monday, November 8th, 2021
Bundeswehr denies breakdown
Germs postpone the “Gorch Fock” voyage
For six years the “Gorch Fock” will be overhauled for 135 million euros. This week she should finally set sail again for the Canaries. But nothing will come of it. The drinking water system is contaminated and must be cleaned beforehand. The Bundeswehr does not want to speak of a new breakdown.
The first training voyage of the refurbished sailing training ship “Gorch Fock” has been postponed at short notice. A marine spokesman named germs in the drinking water system as the reason. Instead of this Wednesday, the three-master will probably start on Thursday or Friday next week. The destination of the first big trip after a long stay in the shipyard is the Canary Islands.
Commander Nils Brandt denied that it was a breakdown. It is about “a completely normal side effect” of the long shipyard time. “Now we have a few germs that make life difficult for us,” said Brandt. Various water pipes would have to be flushed over the next few days.
Initially, only the 120 men and women of the regular crew of the sailor will be on board for the upcoming voyage. At the beginning of 2022, a total of around 220 officer candidates will learn the nautical skills on two training trips on the ship.
On October 4th, the “Gorch Fock” returned to Kiel after around six years in the shipyard. The costs for the renovation of the barque had risen in recent years from initially 10 million to 135 million euros.