.jpg) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | Grossherzog Friedrich August |
| Namesake | Grand Duke Friedrich August of Oldenburg |
| Builder | Joh. C. Tecklenborg,Bremerhaven |
| Launched | 1914 |
| In service | 1914–1918 |
| Fate | Given to Britain as war reparation |
 British Empire | |
| Acquired | 1920 |
| Fate | Purchased by Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab |
  Norway | |
| Name | Statsraad Lehmkuhl |
| Namesake | Kristofer Lehmkuhl |
| Acquired | 1921 |
| In service | 1923–1940 |
| Fate | Captured by Nazi Germany |
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | Westwärts |
| In service | 1940–1945 |
| Norway | |
| Name | Statsraad Lehmkuhl |
| Namesake | Kristofer Lehmkuhl |
| In service | 1945–present |
| Identification |
|
| Status | in active service |
| Notes | Training ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 1516 tons |
| Length | Sparred Length: 98,00 m; (Length of hull): 84,60 m; (Length of waterline): 73,00 m |
| Beam | 12,60 m |
| Height | Max. Height: 48,00 m |
| Draft | 5.20 m |
| Propulsion | 22 Sails |
| Sail plan | Sail area: 2026 m2 |
| Speed | 11 knots (engine) / 17 knots (sails) |
| Complement |
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Statsraad Lehmkuhl is a three-mastedbarque rigged sail training vessel owned and operated by the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Foundation. It is based inBergen,Norway and contracted out for various purposes, including serving as aschool ship for theRoyal Norwegian Navy (using RNoN's prefix "HNoMS").
It was built in 1914 byJoh. C. Tecklenborg ship yard inGeestemünde as a school training ship for theGermanmerchant marine under the nameGrossherzog Friedrich August. After theFirst World War the ship was taken as a prize by theUnited Kingdom and in 1921 the ship was bought by formerNorwegian cabinet ministerKristofer Lehmkuhl (hence the name, which means "Cabinet Minister Lehmkuhl"). Except during theSecond World War, when she was captured and under the name ofWestwärts used by German forces, the ship belonged toBergens Skoleskib from 1921 until donated to the Foundation in 1978.[1]
In 2000, she was chartered by theGerman Navy while theirGorch Fock was overhauled.
In 2019 the ship was upgraded from diesel to hybrid power byKongsberg, whereby a 370 kWh battery bank is charged while the ship is being powered by the wind, and can be used to drive the ship's propellers when the sails no longer provide sufficient power, only relying on the ship's KRM6 diesel engine fromBergen Engines as backup support. The batteries are also used to provide energy for the ship's instruments, lights and galley.[2][3][4]
In 2021, the ship featured in anNRKslow TV feature from 6 July to 15 August, sailing fromNordkapp Municipality toArendal Municipality calling at ports along the Norwegian coastline.[5] In August 2021 Statsraad Lehmkuhl started the "One Ocean Expedition", circumnavigating the world equipped as a scientific research vessel, collecting meteorological and hydrographical data along with samples of fish, microplastics, zooplankton, eDNA, and carbon dioxide in the water. The ship was hired by marine research institutions on some of the legs.
In spring of 2022 theOcean Frontier Institute sponsored undergraduate students from Dalhousie University in Halifax and Memorial University of Newfoundland on a 16-week expedition aboard the ship.[6] The students participated as crew members following an ocean sustainability course offered through Norway'sUniversity of Bergen.
The ship has participated numerous times in theTall Ship Races persistently finishing high in standing in her class.
The three sister ships ofStatsraad Lehmkuhl also survive:
