A. Köbis, which was launched in 1974, is a German motor yacht and former state yacht of the German Democratic Republic. It was named after the sailor Albin Köbis, who was famous for his participation in a mutiny during the First World War. It is classed as a sports boat and is suited only to inland waterways. It has a large conference room but no sleeping cabins, with a capacity for 50 guests.[1] It had a West German engine and a British radar system.[2] The ship was mainly used by head of state Erich Honecker on the Spree river and for hosting guests including Daniel Ortega and Muammar Gaddafi.[1][3]
_(2).jpg) As Vineta in summer 2017 in Berlin-Spandau on the Havel
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | A. Köbis |
| Owner | 1974–Major General Markus Wolf, head of the GDR's foreign intelligence service 2018–Flux Ahoi sailing school |
| Builder | VEB Yachtwerft |
| Launched | October 1, 1974 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Yacht |
| Length | 35m |
| Installed power | Two 178-hp MAN diesels |
The yacht replaced the earlier Albin Köbis which was launched in 1952.[4] Compared to its stylish wood-fitted predecessor, the yacht is a "plug-ugly, rectangular steel box", according to GDR boatbuilding expert Uwe Giesler.[5]
The ship was later renamed Vineta and was auctioned in 2014.[6] In 2018, she returned to Berlin and was purchased by the Flux Ahoi sailing school.[3]
Other vessels named Albin Köbis
edit- Albin Köbis (ship, 1948) sailing vessel
- Albin Köbis (yacht), 1952 sailing vessel
References
edit- ^ a b "Ex-Staatsyacht der DDR „A. Köbis" steht zum Verkauf" (in German). 2014-06-10. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ 'Plug-ugly' Honecker yacht fetches €130,000. The Local. 2014-12-08.
- ^ a b "Erich Honeckers Schiff "Vineta": Die Staatsyacht der DDR kehrt zurück". Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). ISSN 1865-2263. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ WELT, DIE (2014-06-11). "DDR-Luxus : Erich Honeckers potthässliches Amtszimmer auf See". DIE WELT. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
- ^ The Local.
- ^ "Frühere „A. Köbis": Die DDR Staatsyacht „Vineta" wird versteigert". FAZ.NET (in German). 2014-11-21. Retrieved 2024-09-30.