After several months of a historically extensive upgrade, Statsraad Lehmkuhl is one significant step closer to sailing again. All the masts and yards are now in place, and the demanding steelwork has largely been completed.
“We are very pleased to have reached this milestone,” says Sigvard Madsen, operations manager for the shipyard stay at Laksevåg in Bergen.
“All the riveting and steelwork at the bottom of the ship is almost complete, except for the sections that remain open for us to reinstall the ballast.”
Operations manager Sigvard Madsen is pleased that an important milestone has been reached at the shipyard.
THE RIGGING IS BACK IN PLACE
Most of the rigging has now been reinstalled after being taken ashore for replacement and maintenance.
None of the masts or yards have been replaced, but they have been systematically inspected and reinforced with new steel where needed.
“We have a 20-year perspective on this work. With this upgrade, Statsraad Lehmkuhl can continue to sail safely for many years to come,” explains Madsen.
The yards have been mounted on the masts, and the crew is assembling the rigging piece by piece.
REWARDING TEAMWORK
The crew also appreciates that Statsraad Lehmkuhl is starting to look like herself again.
“We have produced an entirely new standing and running rigging in the workshop hall over the summer, and for the past two months, we have been working tirelessly to install the standing rigging on board. It feels really good now to see the yards and ropes coming together,” says able seaman Håvard Botnen.
Able seaman Leo Forshufvud adds that the entire crew is involved in the effort to get the rigging back in place.
“The pace is picking up, and morale is rising now that Statsraad Lehmkuhl is starting to look like a real sailing ship again. It’s incredibly rewarding to work together as a team to make this happen,” says Leo.
Matrosene Håvard Botnen og Leo Forshufvud.
REMAINING WORK BEFORE SETTING SAIL
Although much work has been completed, there is still a significant amount left before Lehmkuhl is ready to sail again.
Inside the bottom of the ship, blasting and painting must be done, followed by the installation of concrete and wood, before the ballast can be reinstated and the final holes in the hull can be sealed.
At the same time, general maintenance is ongoing, and the galley is being rebuilt.
There is still a lot of work remaining before the galley is ready.
SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT BEING INSTALLED
An important task in the coming weeks is the installation of scientific measuring equipment in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Research. Data collection for ocean research is a central part of the upcoming One Ocean Expedition, which starts in April 2025.
Among other things, a dedicated research module has now been installed beneath the ship, housing a scientific echo sounder and several underwater microphones.
A specially designed module, or “The Fish” as it’s called, will house scientific measuring instruments for the upcoming One Ocean Expedition.
OUT OF DRY DOCK IN NOVEMBER
Operations manager Sigvard Madsen is confident they will complete all tasks on schedule.
“We are on track and fully believe we will deliver according to the plan.”
“It’s been a long, exciting, and educational summer. Now we’re looking forward to getting her out of the dock in November for testing,” says Madsen.
Statsraad Lehmkuhl is expected to return to her usual berth at Bradbenken in week 50, just in time for Christmas parties, followed by the annual winter voyage with the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy at the start of January.
Read more about upcoming voyages here..
Good teamwork among the crew of Statsraad Lehmkuhl will have the ship ready for new voyages soon. From left: Mattis S. P. Nielsen, Mads Lundberg Steffensen, Tobias Klæboe Pedersen, Jesper Rosenmai, and Leo Forshufvud.
Tekst/foto: Helene Spurkeland
Published on 25.09.24
