Skip to content

Pride II To Rendezvous with 101 Year-Old Norwegian Tall Ship

Pride II To Rendezvous
with 101 Year-Old Norwegian Tall Ship
The vessels will meet in Baltimore’s Harbor on November 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Rodini laura@pride2.org

Pride of Baltimore II and Norway’s Statsraad Lehmkuhl
Pride of Baltimore II and Norway’s Statsraad Lehmkuhl

BALTIMORE, October 30, 2015 – Pride of Baltimore II, America’s Star-Spangled Ambassador, finishes her season with an event of international proportions on Wednesday, November 4, 2015, as Pride will rendezvous with the HNoMS Statsraad Lehmkuhl, the largest Tall Ship (332 feet) to visit Baltimore this year! Captains of both vessels will meet near the Key Bridge at 9 am as Pride escorts Statsraad Lehmkuhl to the Inner Harbor by 10 am.

“We’re glad that Statsraad Lehmkuhl has chosen to visit Baltimore, a city known for its maritime heritage,” says Rick Scott, Executive Director, Pride of Baltimore, Inc.

 

Pride II Meets Statsraad Lehmkuhl

 

Statsraad Lehmkuhl en route to Baltimore, Courtesy Statsraad Lehmkuhl
Statsraad Lehmkuhl en route to Baltimore, Courtesy Statsraad Lehmkuhl

On September 22, 2015, Statsraad Lehmkuhl embarked on a 6-week voyage from her home port of Bergen, Norway to Baltimore, Maryland. Statsraad Lehmkuhl sailed across the North Sea, through the English Channel and into the Atlantic, stopping over in Bermuda. Captain Marcus A. Seidl has managed to stay under sail for 54% of the time in order to save fuel stores. The ship, known for its ecological commitments, prides itself on being a ‘very green alternative to most other travel methods.’

The best vantage points to see the ships under sail as they enter the Inner Harbor will be from:

-Broadway Pier in Fells Point (900 S. Broadway)
-Tide Point (1040 Hull St.,)
-Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (2400 East Fort Ave)

Other vantage points to consider include: The Canton Waterfront Park, The Promenade, Federal Hill and The Baltimore Museum of Industry.

Deck tours of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl will be offered on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 from 10 am to 4 pm. The ship will arrive at 10am on November 4th and depart at 2pm on November 11th.
Location: Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, West Wall

Sail Baltimore is the nonprofit group responsible for bringing Statsraad Lehmkuhl and other visiting ships from around the world to Charm City for nearly 40 years. For more information about the Statsraad Lehmkuhl’s history, visitor schedule, and more, visit Sail Baltimore’s official website: http://www.sailbaltimore.org.

 

About Statsraad Lehmkuhl

 

Image courtesy Statsraad Lehmkuhl
Image courtesy Statsraad Lehmkuhl

Built in Germany in 1914, Statsraad Lehmkuhl was used as a training vessel for German Merchant Marines until taken as a prize by England following the end of WWI. In 1921, England sold the ship to Norway, who put her to work as a training vessel in 1923. Norway’s then Cabinet Minister Kristofer Lehmkuhl was vital in creating the training ship program, so as a token of appreciation, the ship was renamed Statsraad Lehmkuhl, which translates to Minister Lehmkuhl. She remained a training ship until 1940, when the Germans confiscated and held on to her until 1944, when she was returned to Norway.

On this voyage, the Statsraad Lehmkuhl is sailed by the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy’s 1st year officer cadets, who are participating in leadership training and teambuilding during the trip. Stripped of modern communication technology, the students must work together to overcome the timeless challenges and dangers of travelling the seas by sail. Statsraad Lehmkuhl has been part of the basic training program since 2002, and the Royal Norwegian Navy leases the ship for several months every year.

The crew of Statsraad Lehmkuhl welcomed a feathered visitor somewhere in the North Atlantic on October 26, 2015. “The observation of birds is normally the first sign of land in the offing and we have a new visitor on board who most likely will hitch a ride to Bermuda,” they wrote.
The crew of Statsraad Lehmkuhl welcomed a feathered visitor somewhere in the North Atlantic on October 26, 2015. “The observation of birds is normally the first sign of land in the offing and we have a new visitor on board who most likely will hitch a ride to Bermuda,” they wrote.

The Statsraad Lehmkuhl weighs 1.516 tons and features 22 sails and can hold up to 200 people, with a permanent 20-person crew. Under sails, the ship can reach a speed of up to 17 knots, or almost 20mph, and 11 knots when only using the diesel engine. You can chart the ship’s progress through this link.

About Sail Baltimore

Sail Baltimore brings tall ships, domestic and foreign navy vessels and sea service vessels to Baltimore every year for free public tours. As a revolving maritime museum, these vessels capture the romance of the sea and bring with them visitors from around the globe. Sail Baltimore’s mission is three-fold – promoting cultural exchange, stimulating Baltimore’s tourism trade, and educating the public. For more information, visit www.sailbaltimore.org .

About The Pride of Baltimore

For nearly four decades, Pride of Baltimore and Pride of Baltimore II have represented the people of Baltimore in ports throughout the world, spreading a positive message of Baltimore and extending the hand of friendship globally. Since her commissioning in 1988, Pride II has traveled more than 250,000 nautical miles and visited 40 countries in 200 ports. Pride II has become one of the most well-known U.S. sailing vessels in the world, capturing the imagination of millions of people.

For more information, contact Laura Rodini at laura@pride2.org.