Once Germany was so proud, that we had pictured her on the 10 Deutsche Mark:
The modern-day Gorch Fock was built in 1958 and has since then undertaken 146 cruises, including one tour around the world in 1988.
She is sometimes referred to (unofficially) as the Gorch Fock II to distinguish her from her older sister ship. The Gorch Fock is under the command of the Naval Academy in Flensburg-Mürwik.
Owner of the tall ship, which is used as School ship is the German Navy - means the state Federal Republic of Germany!
Renovations and repair problems
Over the years, various modernizations have been applied to the ship. She was fitted with air conditioning, the asbestos used originally was removed and replaced by less dangerous materials in 1991, and in that year she also received a new auxiliary engine, a six cylinder diesel engine producing 1,220 kW (1660 hp), giving the ship a top speed of 13.7 knots under power. The interior has also been modified multiple times; technological advances made it possible to reduce the size of the galley and enlarge the crew quarters.
Because of hull damage repairs began in November 2015 at the German shipyard Elsflether Werft with a first cost estimate of 9.6 million euro.
With the discovery of more problems the estimate was stepwise raised to 64.5 million euro within a year. Despite concerns about the rising costs the Ministry of Defense approved a continuation of the repairs..
In 2017 it was determined that the amount of work required was much greater; this included the almost complete replacement of the hull plating, renewal of decks and refurbishment of the engine with a cost estimated at 135 million euro.
In January 2018 repairs were stopped while a review was carried out by the Ministry of Defence, including consideration of replacing Gorch Fock with a new vessel.
In March 2018 it was announced that the project would continue, noting that a new vessel would could be delivered until 2025, and that the existing vessel would re-enter service in 2019. However, in January 2019 the ship was reported to be in an almost completely dismantled state.
A new actual review by the Bundesrechnungshof (Federal Audit Office) was sharply critical of the procurement process by the Ministry of Defense.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...repairing-sailing-ship-troops-face-shortages/
"Severe" mismanagement within the German navy and Defense Ministry led to massive cost overruns in restoration work on a naval training ship, according to a confidential report seen by Der Spiegelmagazine.
Repair estimates on the Gorch Fock were originally priced at under €10 million ($11.5 million), but skyrocketed to €135 million last year, the 39-page report from the National Audit Office found.
The agency blamed military officers for inadequately examining the sailing ship's deficiencies, ignoring information vital for the repair work and failing to fully inform Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen.
Work on the ship's hull and renewal of its upper and middle deck began in 2015 without an economic feasibility study, and without considering the case for constructing a new ship, auditors said.
A Defense Ministry spokesperson said the ministry would submit a formal reply to the Federal Audit Office's accusations by April.
Expensive storage
Before it was taken to Bremerhaven for repairs in 2015, authorities reportedly believed it would take some four months to complete the restoration.
More than three years later, however, the ship is still completely disassembled. Keeping the ship in dry dock costs the German taxpayers some €10,000 per day, according to Der Spiegel.
Meanwhile, the German navy has been forced to reassign its officer cadets to Mircea, a Romanian three master barque, for naval training.
Read more in the original report from the Spiegel (in german language):
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deuts...ie-renovierung-so-explodierten-a-1247801.html
Let us see what the future will bring.......
The modern-day Gorch Fock was built in 1958 and has since then undertaken 146 cruises, including one tour around the world in 1988.
She is sometimes referred to (unofficially) as the Gorch Fock II to distinguish her from her older sister ship. The Gorch Fock is under the command of the Naval Academy in Flensburg-Mürwik.
Owner of the tall ship, which is used as School ship is the German Navy - means the state Federal Republic of Germany!
Renovations and repair problems
Over the years, various modernizations have been applied to the ship. She was fitted with air conditioning, the asbestos used originally was removed and replaced by less dangerous materials in 1991, and in that year she also received a new auxiliary engine, a six cylinder diesel engine producing 1,220 kW (1660 hp), giving the ship a top speed of 13.7 knots under power. The interior has also been modified multiple times; technological advances made it possible to reduce the size of the galley and enlarge the crew quarters.
Because of hull damage repairs began in November 2015 at the German shipyard Elsflether Werft with a first cost estimate of 9.6 million euro.
With the discovery of more problems the estimate was stepwise raised to 64.5 million euro within a year. Despite concerns about the rising costs the Ministry of Defense approved a continuation of the repairs..
In 2017 it was determined that the amount of work required was much greater; this included the almost complete replacement of the hull plating, renewal of decks and refurbishment of the engine with a cost estimated at 135 million euro.
In January 2018 repairs were stopped while a review was carried out by the Ministry of Defence, including consideration of replacing Gorch Fock with a new vessel.
In March 2018 it was announced that the project would continue, noting that a new vessel would could be delivered until 2025, and that the existing vessel would re-enter service in 2019. However, in January 2019 the ship was reported to be in an almost completely dismantled state.
A new actual review by the Bundesrechnungshof (Federal Audit Office) was sharply critical of the procurement process by the Ministry of Defense.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...repairing-sailing-ship-troops-face-shortages/
"Severe" mismanagement within the German navy and Defense Ministry led to massive cost overruns in restoration work on a naval training ship, according to a confidential report seen by Der Spiegelmagazine.
Repair estimates on the Gorch Fock were originally priced at under €10 million ($11.5 million), but skyrocketed to €135 million last year, the 39-page report from the National Audit Office found.
The agency blamed military officers for inadequately examining the sailing ship's deficiencies, ignoring information vital for the repair work and failing to fully inform Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen.
Work on the ship's hull and renewal of its upper and middle deck began in 2015 without an economic feasibility study, and without considering the case for constructing a new ship, auditors said.
A Defense Ministry spokesperson said the ministry would submit a formal reply to the Federal Audit Office's accusations by April.
Expensive storage
Before it was taken to Bremerhaven for repairs in 2015, authorities reportedly believed it would take some four months to complete the restoration.
More than three years later, however, the ship is still completely disassembled. Keeping the ship in dry dock costs the German taxpayers some €10,000 per day, according to Der Spiegel.
Meanwhile, the German navy has been forced to reassign its officer cadets to Mircea, a Romanian three master barque, for naval training.
Read more in the original report from the Spiegel (in german language):
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deuts...ie-renovierung-so-explodierten-a-1247801.html
Let us see what the future will bring.......
