ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT SHIP

1906, Germany

Alexander von Humboldt (with the Gorch Fock) is the best known of German sailing ship.

She was launched in 1906 as a lightvessel under the name “Reserve Sonderburg”. The bright red vessel operated through the North and Baltic seas until 1986.

In 1988, thanks to sponsors, she was refitted as a three-masted barque and christened as Alexander von Humboldt after the famous German explorer.

Her hull was painted green as a reference to the sailing ships of the Rickmers shipping company of Breme and her green sails acted as advertisement for the ship’s sponsor, the German brewer Beck’s.

She currently serves as a training sailing ship.