The museum ship "Kaiser Wilhelm" is one of the oldest still operational paddle steamers in Germany. The passenger ship sailed on the Weser for 70 years. Today it sails across the Elbe near Lauenburg.
When he is traveling on the Elbe, the cloud of smoke can be seen from afar and the volunteer crew on board has their hands full. The stoker has to shovel 150 kilos of coal into the boiler every hour, because the paddle steamer "Kaiser Wilhelm" is one of the last coal-fired paddle steamers in the world that is still in service. From June to the end of September, the more than 100-year-old steamship travels between Lauenburg, Bleckede and Hitzacker with guests on the Elbe every other weekend.
Built in Dresden around 1900
The paddle steamer was built in 1899 and 1900 by the Dresdner Maschinenfabrik und Schiffswerft AG for the later Oberweser Dampfschifffahrt of the Hamelin Weser mill owner F.W. Meyer. The ship was launched on May 20, 1900. In order to start service on the Weser, the "Kaiser Wilhelm" had to cross the Elbe to the North Sea and then turn into the Weser - the Mittelland Canal was not yet completed at this time. This means a considerable effort, since the steam boiler may only be operated with fresh water, the salty North Sea water would lead to premature damage to the boiler plate. The required fresh water - around ten tons - is therefore carried along. All panes have special fuses to protect them from damage and water ingress on the high seas.
In 1910, the ship had to undertake the tour across the North Sea again. The steamer is lengthened by ten meters and rebuilt in the Dresden shipyard. After the conversion, it goes back over the sea to the Weser for a third time.
On the Elbe since 1971
After 70 years on the Weser, the "Kaiser Wilhelm" was decommissioned in 1970. In the same year, the association for the promotion of the Lauenburg Elbschiffahrts-Museum e.V. takes over the old ship. Since 1971 it has been used as a moving museum ship for historical trips on the Elbe. This makes the paddle steamer the longest-serving museum passenger ship. The entire crew works on a voluntary basis, and the proceeds from ticket sales go towards the preservation of the listed steamer. But the amounts are not always sufficient - so the ship was thoroughly restored in 2014 at a Lauenburg shipyard with funds from a special program for the protection of monuments by the federal government. During the work, floor panels and walls of the steel structure will be replaced. In addition, the power supply is improved.