Monday, October 4th, 2021
Conservationists protest
“Gorch Fock” back in Kiel
After years of renovation, the sailing training ship “Gorch Fock” has returned to its home port in Kiel. Round of honor and gun salute included. There were also important visitors on board. But for conservationists, the overhauled 89-meter-long three-master is a nuisance.
The sailing training ship “Gorch Fock” has returned to its home port of Kiel after six years. In the early afternoon, the 89-meter-long three-master passed the Kiel-Wik naval base. The ship and crew were greeted with 20 rounds of salute from the outer pier of the base. The “Gorch Fock” returned the 21st shot. Several dozen sailing and motor boats accompanied the three-master. Thousands of people watched the arrival on the banks of the fjord.
Before the ship was supposed to moor at the Gorch-Fock-Mole of the base in the course of the afternoon, a lap of honor was scheduled in the inner fjord, where the state parliament of Schleswig-Holstein is located. Parliament is the godfather of the completely renewed three-master. Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and the Inspector of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach, were also on board for the last nautical miles of the journey. In the morning in Eckernförde Bay they had stepped from a mine-hunting boat on board the “Gorch Fock”.
The sailing training ship of the German Navy is used for officer training. At the end of 2015, during inspections of the sailor, which was put into service in 1959, serious damage was found, which required extensive renovation. The general overhaul of the traditional ship caused a stir, mainly because of the drastic cost increases. Originally ten million euros had been agreed, in the end the costs rose to 135 million euros.
Added to this were further difficulties and massive delays. The judiciary is investigating suspicion of corruption and breach of trust in connection with the renovation work carried out by the shipyard originally commissioned to do so. This went bankrupt, the repair of the “Gorch Fock” came to a standstill for a time. The Bremen Lürssen shipyard took over the insolvent company and completed the work on the “Gorch Fock”.
Conservationists protest over the use of teak
At the arrival of the sailing training ship, conservationists massively criticized the use of the teak built on deck. The upper deck of the three-master is equipped with the wood. “The teak used to renew the deck is most likely illegal wood from the last remaining virgin forests in Myanmar,” said an alliance of five organizations. The Ministry of Defense or the authorities subordinate to it have ignored the procurement guidelines.
“The Navy does not comment,” said a spokesman. Because courts have dismissed lawsuits against the use of the wood, conservationists have taken action before the Federal Constitutional Court. Its decision is still pending. Due to its nature, teak is often used for the decks of sailing ships.