Feuerschiff Elbe 3, Museum ship and lightvessel in Museumshafen Oevelgönne, Hamburg, Germany
The Feuerschiff Elbe 3 is a former lightship roughly 45 meters long that now sits in Museumshafen Oevelgönne and serves as a floating ship museum. Onboard exhibits show how maritime safety operated and what life was like for sailors working aboard such vessels.
The ship was built in 1888 and first served under a different name on another river before being transferred to the Elbe. It received a diesel engine in 1936, which modernized it for that era.
The name refers to the Elbe River where the vessel stood watch for many years. It demonstrates to visitors how sailors once navigated the river's waterways safely.
Visitors can board and explore the ship's interior, with guided tours available through its various spaces. The best time to visit is from May to October when regular tours operate and weather is pleasant.
The ship ranks among the world's oldest still-working lightvessels and retained many of its original technical systems from 1936. Volunteer workers continuously maintain the vessel and keep its equipment functioning properly.
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