Minden

The Minden is a dredger ship with a bucket chain system that was anchored in the river and lifted material from the riverbed. It used steam power to move an endless chain with scoops that extracted gravel and mud.

The ship was built in 1882 in Mainz and spent decades working on the Weser River. It left active service in 1979.

The vessel reflects German engineering craftsmanship of the 1800s and how people organized river work through mechanical means. You can see how essential such working ships were to keeping inland waterways functional.

The ship sits at the Museum of German Inland Shipping in Duisburg, where you can view it from outside and see the machinery. The museum is near the harbor and easy to reach on foot.

The ship could not move on its own and had to be positioned using anchors and chains while it dredged. This design was a remarkably efficient solution for its time despite lacking independent mobility.