History

Chronological History of the Albatros

Design: Dutch built steel sailing clipper
Year Built: 1899
Class: Clipper class ketch rigged.
Keel Type: Flat bottomed with bilge keels, lee boards removed.

ALBATROS” is a Dutch North Sea Clipper built in 1899 as a cargo vessel for the trade between Holland and the Baltic. She was fully restored to her former glory between 1983 and 1988 and sailed the North Sea and the Baltic,

as the last freight carrier under sail in the regular trade in Western Europe till 1997. In 1998 “ALBATROS” was converted to a sail training and passenger ship with Classification Z1.2.3.4 from Register Holland with IMO number 5008356.

She made her last commercial sailing trip with passengers in 2008.

She was used as a fully licensed Bar and Restaurant, B&B and Music Venue and has always kept and maintained in a seaworthy condition.

Builder: Kalkman, Cappelle a/d Ijssel, near Rotterdam

Vessel Description:     

L.O.A:   32.16m             Deck length: 30.77m      Waterline length:  29.78m

Beam: 6.20m                  Max Draft:1.9m              Air Draft: 27.50m                Ballast: 80 ton

Engine and Systems:

Engine Model: 2 Cyl. Hundested FFL    HP:160hp    Fuel Type: Diesel   Consumption:  5 to 10 l/hr

Speed: 6Knts   Max; 8Knts      No of Cylinders:  2       Starting Type: Compressed Air

Control Type:  Hydraulic

Propeller Type:  Pitch Propeller, 2 blades with reversible blades

History of the ALBATROS

1899: Built for Captain Johannes Muller from Middelharnis near Rotterdam and used for cargo carrying between Holland and the Baltic. Survives World War I under Captain Muller.

1920: Muller sells “Albatros” to Captain Lolk from Svendborg (DK)

1933: Lolk installs her first engine (80 HP)

1941: Lolk sells the “Albatros” to Captain Rasmussen from Hobro (DK)

1941-1945: Rasmussen keeps trading through World War II and uses the “Albatros” to rescue Jews and political dissidents out of Nazi-occupied Denmark to neutral Sweden carrying back guns and explosives for the Danish Resistance crammed between her cargo.

1964: Rasmussen reduces rigging to steadying sails and installs a stronger engine (160 HP)

1978: Captain. Rasmussen retires after 37 years on the “Albatros”. “Albatros” laid up in Copenhagen.

1980: Captain. Ton Brouwer buys the “Albatros” and sails her to Amsterdam.

1983-1987: Complete restoration under supervision of Germanischer Loyd.

1987: “Albatros” recommissioned as a sailing cargo vessel with classification GL 100 A4K.

1987-1997: Ton Brouwer captains the “Albatros” as Europe’s last cargo ship under sail in the Home Trade and the Baltic trade taking on disaffected youths as a crew and sailing about 20.000 nautical miles per year with different cargos to several ports around Northwest Europe.

1990-1996: “Albatros” becomes a regular visitor in the port of Wells-Next-The-Sea bringing more than 100 cargos of soya bean meal from the continent.

1996: On September 5th 1996 the “Albatros” delivered 100 tons of soya bean meal from Rotterdam to the North Norfolk port of Wells-next-the-Sea. Those who stood on The Quay two days later and watched her sail back to Holland were present at an historic moment: The “Albatros” was the last sail driven cargo ship in Europe and this marked the end of her 98 year career as a freight carrier.

1997/98: Cargo hold refurbished and the “Albatros” converted to a fully licensed sailing passenger ship.

1998-2000: “Albatros” chartered by Greenpeace and used as a waterborne venue for children’s environmental education along the coast of Holland.

August 2000: “Albatros” officially invited to SAIL AMSTERDAM.

2001: “Albatros” based in Wells-Next-The-Sea where members of Wells’ maritime community have formed a Trust called “The Albatros Project” to support the use of the ship as an educational centre. In order to keep her commercially viable the “Albatros” is available for luxury cruises, sail training, executive development and corporate entertainment.

2005: The Albatros Project stops and the Trust is dissolved. In addition to the sailing program Ton Brouwer looks at the possibilities of using the ship as a bar, restaurant and music venue alongside the Wells Quay. After approval of his plans by the Wells Harbour Commissioners Ton Brouwer obtains his publican license and a premises license for the ship from North Norfolk District Council.

2008: The Albatros makes its last commercial sailing trip with guests in July. From then on, the sale of real ales and pancakes becomes a full time all year round business.

September 2019: Ceased trading. Vessel put up “FOR SALE”

May 2020: (the start of COVID19 ) Purchased by the Richardson Family with a vison of what her future might be.

18th Aug  2020: Passage to Maldon and Heritage Marine a family owned shipyard specialising in the renovation and refurbishment of traditional and historical ships and barges.

21st July 2023: After three years with all the issues imposed by COVID19 and substantial renovation and fitting out Albatros returns to Wells the Next Sea to a fabulous welcome by the town as she was guided on to the quay by the Frank T and the Harbour Master and team

Summer 2024: We hope to re-start the B&B offer for spring 2024 once we have final permissions , inspections completed

My life on the Albatros 1980 - 2020

Tom Brouwer has self published a history of the Albatros titled ‘My life on the Albatros 1980 - 2020’ and this is available from a number of outlets in Wells. ISBN 978—-1-3999-7052-5