THE RICKMER RICKMERS
Not just a ship, but a labour of love
The Rickmer Rickmers: Hamburg's green lady in the harbour
A piece of maritime history you can touch: the Rickmer Rickmers, a proud three-master, has been moored at the Hamburg Landungsbrücken as a museum ship since 1983. She once travelled the world’s oceans, transporting rice and bamboo from Asia. Today she tells of bygone seafaring times and entices visitors with her imposing appearance and exciting history.
The Rickmer Rickmers was launched in 1896 at the shipyard of the Bremerhaven shipping company Rickmer Clasen Rickmers. What makes this ship special is that even then it had three types of propulsion: wind, diesel and steam. It was named after the shipowner’s grandson. As a steel full-rigged ship, it was designed to transport general cargo and sailed on routes to East Asia and South America. Its distinctive green colour at the bow, which earned it the nickname ‘green lady’, was typical of the ships of the Rickmers shipping company.
An eventful history
The Rickmer Rickmers has had a chequered history. During the First World War, she was confiscated by Portugal and sailed under the name ‘Sagres’. She later served as a training ship for the Portuguese navy. It was not until 1983 that she returned to Hamburg, where she was extensively restored and converted into a museum ship. The largest restoration of the venerable old sailing ship took place in 2016. At Blohm + Voss, the hull was cleaned of rust, rotten planks were replaced and the carvings were replaced.
A look into the past
Heute können Besucher an Bord der Rickmer Rickmers in die Welt der Seefahrt eintauchen. Die originalgetreu erhaltenen Räume wie der Kapitänssalon, die Offiziersmesse und die Mannschaftsquartiere vermitteln einen authentischen Eindruck vom Leben an Bord. Auch der Laderaum und das Maschinendeck sind zugänglich. Zu besonderen Events können Schwindelfreie sogar die Takelage erklettern und von oben einen einzigartigen Blick auf Hamburg erhalten.
The figurehead: an eye-catcher with symbolic power
A special highlight is the figurehead at the bow of the ship. It represents Rickmer Clasen Rickmers, the founder of the shipping company. Figureheads have a long tradition at sea. They were intended to bring good luck to the ship and ward off evil spirits. The figurehead of the Rickmer Rickmers symbolises the pioneering spirit and entrepreneurial foresight of the shipowner.
Museum ship and event venue
The Rickmer Rickmers is now a popular tourist attraction and an important part of the Port of Hamburg. It not only offers a fascinating exhibition on the history of seafaring, but also function rooms for events and celebrations. With its imposing appearance and eventful past, the ‘green lady’ is a symbol of the Hanseatic city and a magnet for tourists from all over the world.
Contact / connection
- Rote Doppeldecker
Haltestelle Nr. 1, St. Pauli Landungsbrücken - HVV
U-Bahn: U3 Landungsbrücken - S-Bahn
S1, S2, S3 Landungsbrücken
- Adress:
- Rickmer Rickmers
- At the St. Pauli Piers 1a
- 20459 Hamburg
- Phone: +0049 40 3 19 59 59
- Mail: museum@rickmer-rickmers.de
- Internet: https://www.rickmer-rickmers.de
- Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 6 pm