Open Ship inspection vehicle SÜDERELBE

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The SÜDERELBE, a new covered harbor vessel commissioned by the City of Hamburg, was launched in 1937 at the Oelkers shipyard in Neuhof. Despite its sleek lines, the vessel was also able to withstand the rough seas of the Lower Elbe, not least because it was designed to make the arduous inspection trips as pleasant as possible for civil servants. Its first modernization took place in 1952, and in keeping with the department in charge, the vessel was henceforth renamed HAFENDIREKTION (PORT DIRECTORATE). The vessel remained in service until well after 2000, carrying not only the Port Director but also many a visiting delegation through Hamburg's harbor. In 2002, the now 65-year-old vessel was decommissioned, transferred to the Hamburg Maritime Foundation, and renamed SÜDERELBE.