S is for "Statsraad Lehmkuhl"

For one who was born and raised in the city of Bergen, Norway, the most natural choice for the letter "S" must be the Sailing vessel "Statsraad Lehmkuhl". Few things are more dear to us and few things symbolizes the city more than this ship. Anyone in doubt can look at my header.

The Statsraad Lehmkuhl is a three-masted barque rigged sail training vessel owned and operated by the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Foundation. She is based in Bergen, Norway and contracted out for various purposes, including serving as a school ship for the Royal Norwegian Navy (using RNoN's prefix "KNM", English: "HNoMS"). She was built in 1914 as a school training ship for the German merchant marine under the name «Grossherzog Friedrich August». After the First World War the ship was taken as a prize by Great Britain and in 1921 the ship was bought by former cabinet minister Kristoffer Lehmkuhl. (Hence the name, which means 'Cabinet Minister Lehmkuhl') With the exception of the Second World War, the ship has belonged to Bergens Skoleskib until she was donated to the aforementioned foundation in 1978 (from Wikipedia).

The shipowner Hilmar Reksten bought the ship himself and donated her to the foundation to prevent her from being sold to foreign interests.

The drawing below is from an old poster I once bought.


Norway has three large training sailig vessels, and this is the largest by far. Her dimensions is large, even by world standards. She has the following specifications:

• Sparred Length: 98,00 m
• L.o.a. (Length of hull): 84,60 m
• L.b.p. (Length of waterline): 73,00 m
• Width: 12,60 m
• Max. Height: 48,00 m
• Max. Draft: 5,20 m
• Gross tonnage: 1516 t
• Sails: 22
• Sail area: 2026 m2
• Speed: 11 knots (machine) / 17 knots (sails)

Of course we need some more pictures of the ship:

Here she is moored in Bergen Harbour ("Vågen"), close by the old fortress "Bergenhus".

A closer look at the decorations on the ships bow. Note the City of Bergen Coat of Arms to the left of the Norwegian flag

Here she is leading the convoy of ships leaving Bergen at the end of their stay at this year's Tall Ship's Races.

And a closer look.

Today's post is part of the the third round of ABC Wednesday. The founder, Denise Nesbitt, has changed the rules to make the system more practical. There is now a no-comment blog where you can post a copy or short version of your post with a link-back to your original post for the full version and comments. Scanning through this no-comment blog will give you lots of Smashy Ss. She has also set up a site where you can log on via Mr. Linky if you want to do that.