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"Elbe 1" - Lightship

The task of the lightship "Elbe 1" was to provide navigation assistance for other ships.

The history of the lightship, which had been on the most dangerous station in the world for 40 years, began unusually and remained so: the construction time was seven years (1941-1948), the almost completed ship was sunk by its own shipyard in 1945 when it was to be blown up by its own German troops. It bears the title of being the world's most rammed lightship, 50 collisions survived the extremely stable hull and countless storms. The switch to electronic navigation aids and the alleged inefficiency finally led to the solemn abandonment of the station in the mouth of the Elbe, which had been occupied since 1816, in 1988. Today, the "Bürgermeister O´Swald II" - the number 1 was lost in a hurricane with the entire team in 1936 - is recognized as a technical monument by the state of Lower Saxony. In 2002, the association "Feuerschiff-Verein ELBE 1 e. V." with its honorary members took over the task accepted by the City of Cuxhaven in the purchase contract to preserve the ship as a nautical-technical monument in an operational condition and to present it to the population for inspection.

A lightship is not only a floating lighthouse, but had many functions. Weather observations (wind, temperature, water, current, etc.), traffic monitoring and maritime police tasks were carried out from on board.

The interior of the ship is as far as possible in original condition preserved or restored, while the ship fulfils the requirements of the BG traffic to be able to carry out trips with guests.

A numbered tour guides the visitors through the ship.

The lightship celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2018.

Type: lightship
Owner: Lightship association Elbe 1, Cuxhaven
Home port: Cuxhaven
Nation: GER
Length overall: 57.30 m
Width: 9.55 m
Draught: 4,75 m
Crew: 36