Langer Heinrich, żuraw pływający z Gdańska
The Langer Heinrich is a crane vessel built in 1905 in Duisburg that served as a lifting tool in harbors across Europe. Measuring nearly 30 meters long and over 20 meters wide, it could lift loads of up to 100 tons and was powered by steam engines that drove a boom reaching approximately 50 meters high.
The vessel worked first in Danzig, now Gdansk, until 1945 before being relocated to Rostock. From 1946 to 1978 it assisted at the Neptun shipyard with construction and repairs, after which the maritime museum took over its preservation in 1980.
The name "Langer Heinrich" refers to the vessel's impressive length, a practical description that became its identity. Today it draws visitors during the Hanse Sail maritime festival, where it fits naturally into celebrations of the city's seafaring traditions and industrial heritage.
The vessel is currently on display at IGA Park where visitors can walk around and examine its structure and mechanics up close. Plan time for a thorough visit to understand the details of the steam propulsion system and lifting mechanisms.
The vessel was towed to a nearby shipyard in 2011 for extensive repairs after water damage threatened its survival. This restoration effort successfully preserved this remarkable piece of working machinery for future generations to experience.
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