The maintenance stay for Statsraad Lehmkuhl is proving to be more expensive than expected. The ship was originally scheduled to be out of dry dock by September, but the stay has now been extended to mid-December. Despite the delays, the Lehmkuhl Foundation remains optimistic about the future.
During this year’s maintenance stay, extensive repair work uncovered more damaged steel than initially anticipated, both at the bottom of the ship and in the masts. To access the hull, around 400 tons of ballast stone and several tons of concrete had to be manually removed from the ship’s bottom.
It was during this work that extensive wear in the steel was discovered, particularly around the mainmast and foremast, requiring additional repairs.
Cost Overrun
“We could have delayed some of the repairs,” explains Haakon Steinar Vatle, director of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Foundation.
“But the cost would have been significantly higher if we had to do the same job again in a few years. Safety is our top priority, so we decided to repair all the damaged steel now.”
As a result, the costs for this year’s maintenance stay have increased from the original 62 million NOK to 94 million NOK. Additionally, the foundation is losing 5 million NOK in revenue from canceled autumn voyages.
Need for support
Til tross for utfordringene er Vatle og mannskapet hans optimistiske for fremtiden.
Despite the challenges, Vatle and his team are optimistic about the future.
“The budget overrun is serious, and we will do everything we can to get through this, but this time we are relying on strong supporters to make it happen,” says Vatle.
Several initiatives are already underway to secure funding, both from public and private sources.
“Statsraad Lehmkuhls Venner has taken the lead in starting the crowdfunding effort and will contribute a substantial 8 million NOK, and now we are working to secure the rest of the funds,” says Vatle.
One Ocean Expedition 2025-2026
In recent years, the Lehmkuhl Foundation has enjoyed economic tailwinds, particularly through the One Ocean Expedition, which is an official representative of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
Last year’s maintenance stay, with a budget of 25 million NOK, was financed by the foundation’s own savings.
The expedition in 2025-2026 will once again set sail to collect scientific data and raise awareness about the state of the ocean, with students, researchers, and crew working together to understand and protect the sea.
Maintenance for Future Generations
“It’s expensive to keep a 110-year-old iconic sailing ship in active service. Our job is to manage the ship on behalf of the community and preserve it for future generations through active use,” Vatle emphasizes.
“Despite its age, the ship has a bright future ahead, and we will do our best to ensure that all contributions are seen as an investment in the future of Statsraad Lehmkuhl.”
Photo below: Isak Okkenhaug, Ingrid Wollberg
