The steamer, built in 1876, has changed its name several times. Since 1994, the "St. Georg" has been sailing regularly on her home territory:the Hamburg Alster.
The "St. Georg" is the only classic Alster steamer that actually deserves this name because of its engine, which is still purely steam-powered. The Hamburg Reiherstieg shipyard built the steamship in 1876 for the Alster shipping company H.E. Jupiter. Today, the "St. Georg" sails regularly on her home waters, the Alster, and is Germany's oldest seaworthy steamboat.
Flat deck conversion
The steamer went into service on the Alster under the name Falke - at that time still with a high center section and lower saloons at the front and rear. In 1911, the shipping company had the steamer converted into a so-called smooth decker with a deck running from bow to stern. The ship was also given the new name Galatea, after the Greek sea nymph. In 1919, Hochbahn AG took over Alster shipping and in 1936 gave the steamer the name "St. Georg" after the Hamburg district of the same name. With the beginning of the Second World War, shipping on the Alster was discontinued and the "St. Georg" was also put out of service after 63 years as a liner steamer.
Technical data of the St. Georg
Year of construction :1876
Shipyard :Reiherstiegs shipyard, Hamburg
Length :20.98 meters
Width :4.40 meters
Draft :1.20 meters
Drive :1922 double expansion engine, oil fired boiler
Power :75 hp
Homeport :Hamburg
Owner :Association Alsterdampfschiffahrt e.V.
After the war the ship was sold and went to Berlin. There it was converted into a motor ship and from then on sailed under the name "Deutschland" on the Havel and Wannsee. It was later renamed again and served as the supply ship "Planet".
Back to the Alster
In 1989, the Alsterdampfschiffahrt e.V. association saved the ship from being scrapped. He had it restored at the Laubegast shipyard in Dresden and restored to its original condition of the 1930s. A two-cylinder steam engine from 1922 has been driving the ship ever since. The steamer was renamed one last time and now bears the name "St. Georg" again.
Since 1994, the historic ship has been sailing on its home waters, the Alster. From March to the end of October, visitors can sail across the Alster and canals several times a day with the veteran of the Alster fleet.