Ships, like people, each have their own destiny. Sometimes it is unique. Millions of people on the planet are fans and simply admirers of the famous bands Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Queen. Surprisingly, the creative destinies of these legendary bands intersected aboard a simple ferry that transported Hamburg residents along the Elbe River. Even more amazing is the fact that today tourists and rock fans can take a trip to the forts of Kronstadt on this ship.

Hamburg and Saint Petersburg are somewhat similar. Both cities are large seaports located on rivers, and in both cities water transport plays an important role. In Hamburg, the significance of local water routes is especially great. They connect the city center, residential neighborhoods with various parts of the port and ship repair yards. Today, more and more tourists are transported along these routes, while in the 20th century they were an important part of the city’s transport infrastructure.

Since 1888, the company “HADAG Seetouristik und Fährdienst AG” has been engaged in transportation along the Elbe River and the Hamburg port water area. From 1953 to 1955, at its order, a series of eight passenger motor ships of the “Stadersand” type were built in Hamburg, each designed to carry 470 people. These were diesel-electric ships with a displacement of 80 tons and a speed of 12 knots – about 22 km/h. By local tradition, they were called ferries, although they were intended only for passenger transport and were essentially just small passenger motor ships. One of the motor ships was named “Reeperbahn” in honor of the Hamburg street where numerous nightclubs were located. This motor ship differed from the others in the series in that it was allowed to go into coastal sea areas, so it operated not only on the Elbe River within Hamburg but also made small cruise trips to Helgoland Island in the North Sea. The “Reeperbahn” served HADAG until 1988, when the “Stadersand” type motor ships were replaced by vessels of modern designs.

In German, Reeperbahn means “Ropewalk.” It is located in the St. Pauli district. This is the center of Hamburg’s nightlife. The city’s residents themselves call it the “Mile of Sin,” as there are many red-light streets there. In this city district, street prostitution is legal. But besides brothels, this quarter has many restaurants, nightclubs, discos, and bars. It is the center of Hamburg’s musical life and an important element of modern German culture. It is no surprise that all famous musicians touring in the FRG always gave concerts in one of the venues on the Reeperbahn. In an alley leading to the Reeperbahn is the museum of the “Liverpool Four.” The Beatles began their star career on the Reeperbahn. Their first performance took place in the “Indra” club. It was in Hamburg that the Beatles met their future drummer – Ringo Starr. It is not exactly known why the Beatles chose the Reeperbahn for their summer night musical outings. Perhaps it was just a coincidence of the street and ship names. The fact is that it was on the “Reeperbahn” that they began holding concerts on the water. After them, this tradition was continued by the Rolling Stones and Queen. As mentioned earlier, it all ended in 1988 when the “Stadersand” type motor ships were replaced by new vessels. The ferries were sold to different countries: the Netherlands, Spain, Israel, Portugal. Two ferries have survived to this day: “S Paulus” operates in Lisbon, and “Reeperbahn” – in Kronstadt.

After being decommissioned from the HADAG fleet, the ferry was bought by Günther Bäther. For the next 20 years, the “Reeperbahn” sailed under the flag of the Hamburg Sailing Yacht Club. During sailing regattas, a team of judges was stationed on the “Reeperbahn.” Once again, the ferry’s fate took a sharp turn in 2008 when the “Reeperbahn” was sold to Russia.

From 2000 to 2007, annual electronic music festivals “FORTDANCE” were held on the neighboring fort “Alexander” (“Plague”). From 2003 to 2006, as part of this festival, a so-called shore dance floor was organized on the fort “Konstantin.” At the same time, up to 30,000 people danced on the fort “Konstantin.” When the organizers learned that a ship with such history was for sale, they immediately decided to buy it. Late in the autumn of 2009, all formalities related to the purchase of the ferry were completed. It was necessary to solve a difficult technical problem – the transfer of the “Reeperbahn” to Saint Petersburg. The “Reeperbahn” had an ice class and was allowed to go into coastal sea areas, but in essence, it was a river vessel. And it had to cross the winter Baltic Sea. All the salon windows were welded with steel sheets, and all doors and portholes of the ship were sealed or welded shut. The very passage of a vessel of this displacement in the winter Baltic Sea deserves respect. On December 12, 2009, the “Reeperbahn” left Hamburg, and a week later moored at Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment in Saint Petersburg.

Even before the transfer, the hull and main engine were repaired in Hamburg. Upon arrival in Petersburg, restoration began – recreating the historical interior of the “Reeperbahn” from the 1960s. Frames, panels, and ceiling lights were restored. Even the inscriptions above the doors and hatches on copper plates were made in German. All sofas were restored. Based on historical photos from concerts, the places where famous musicians sat and played were identified. Posters with information about which musicians and when sat in those places during concerts were glued there. As a result of this work, the “Reeperbahn” acquired the appearance it had in the 1960s. The only difference was a reduction in passenger capacity. While the Hamburg ferry “Reeperbahn” originally carried up to 470 people, after its conversion into a tourist motor ship, its capacity decreased to 101 people.

Initially, musical themed evenings were held on the ferry. The “Reeperbahn” appeared in one of the episodes of “Sea Devils.” But the ferry’s main task is different. Every day in the summer, it makes several trips on the route from Kronstadt, past the forts “Kronslot” and “Citadel” (fort “Emperor Peter I”) to the fort “Konstantin” and back. On several trips, the ferry calls at the fort “Alexander I” (“Plague”).

Source:

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