 Lightvessel No. XVII Gedser Rev atNyhavn in Copenhagen | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Denmark | |
| Name | Lightvessel No. XVIIGedser Rev |
| Namesake | Gedser Rev |
| Builder | N.F. Hansen,Odense |
| Launched | 1895 |
| Decommissioned | 1972 |
| Status | Museum ship atNyhavn,Copenhagen, 2003 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Lightvessel |
| Length | 33.6 m (110 ft)[1] |
| Beam | 6.4 m (21 ft)[1] |
| Propulsion |
|
Lightvessel No. XVII Gedser Rev (Danish: Fyrskib XVII Gedser Rev) is a decommissionedlightvessel built in 1895, now serving as amuseum ship inHelsingør,Denmark, having formerly been stationed in theNyhavn Canal inCopenhagen. It is owned by theNational Museum and takes its name afterGedser Rev south ofFalster where it was stationed most of its working life.
Denmark's firstlightvessel was built atJacob Holm's shipyard atChristianshavn in 1829.[1]
Built at N.F. Hansen's shipyard inOdense in 1895, the Gedser Rev was number seventeen in the line of Danish lightvessels. It was first stationed at Lappegrund in shallow waters at the entrance to theØresund. It was powered by twosteam engines which were replaced by a 16-hpkerosene engine in 1918.
In 1921, a new three-cylinder Voelund 135-hp propulsion engine was installed and the ship was moved to a position atGedser Rev, south ofFalster, itself the southernmost point of Denmark.
In 1940, when Denmark was occupied byGermany inWorld War II, the German occupying forces confiscated the ship and placed it nearKalundborg, but it returned to its old position in 1945 after the war had ended.[2]
The ship was involved in a number of collisions during her years in operation. The most serious of these occurred in 1954 when she sank within a few minutes. The seaman on duty was thrown overboard and drowned while the rest of the crew were saved.
During theCold War and after the building of theBerlin Wall in 1961, many East Germans chose to escape by water, heading North to Denmark. Although most failed and many died in the attempt, at least 50 were rescued by the Gedser Rev.[3] As the southernmost limit of Danish territory and as an obviously recognisable target, many aimed for the lightship. One notable escapee was Manfred Burmeister in 1969, who escaped by aid of a petrol-driven submersible scooter.[note 1]
Lightvessel No. XVII was decommissioned in 1972 and put up for sale at the lightship warehouse atHolmen in Copenhagen. A donation from the A. P. Møller Foundation enabled theNational Museum to purchase it. The A. P. Møller Foundation also sponsored the ship's restoration which was carried out at Hvide Sande Shipyard from January 2001 until November 2003.[2]
The lightvessel's regular home for several years has been theNyhavn Canal inCopenhagen,Denmark where was open to the public Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm from June through August. It was maintained by a group of volunteers.
On 9 May 2018 it was towed from Nyhavn to dock 2 inHelsingør harbor, to be exhibited there for five years.[4]
On 27 May 2009Bank of Denmark issued a new 20krone coin with lightvessel XVII, as depicted by the artist Karin Lorentzen, on its reverse.[5][2]
Media related toFyrskib No. XVII Gedser Rev (ship, 1895) at Wikimedia Commons
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55°40′48″N12°35′23″E / 55.6800°N 12.5897°E /55.6800; 12.5897
