Page 19 - Port of Hamburg Magazine - 03.18

per knows from experience. The train needs a day and a half to reach Braunschweig. Today it is making for the ship’s lifts at Scharnebek. The trio will spend the night there before leaving again at six in the morning.
The three-man crew can sail on for the whole day, but after then a continuous rest period is the rule. On the move, the trio take turns in the wheelhouse. Skipper Christoph Schwindt is a role model for Florian Grüneberg. Like his captain, he aims to get ahead while still young. To do so, he will need to show proof of experience at the wheel, to acquire tickets for vari- ous trades. He has already taken several upwards steps since his training as a deckhand/mechanic. And he has already experienced a good deal on German in- land waterways.
GREETED WITH FIREWORKS
One task that the youngsters found thrilling was trans- porting an electro-solar-ferry to Oberbillig on the Mo- selle. The arrival of the ‘Sankta Maria II’ was the occa- sion for massive celebration in the community. “We were welcomed with fireworks and an official delega- tion. That was a big show,” relates Christoph Schwindt. The tour between Hamburg and Braunschweig is now routine. Deutsche Binnenreederei has at least eleven sailings/arrivals per week in the Port of Hamburg for its main links to Hanover, Braunschweig and Minden. There’s an additional regular twelfth sailing if there’s enough water in the Elbe, to reach upstream destina- tions away from the canals, and naturally special tours in addition.
EXCITING SPECIAL SHIPMENTS
Apart from containers, customers also despatch pro- ject cargo by inland waterway craft. For heavy loads, especially, waterways are ideal for reaching the Port of Hamburg. Even if inland waterway shipping only ac- counts for two percent of total modal split, in many ar- eas it is irreplaceable as a means of transport. Siemens turbines weighing over 400 tons, ores for Salzgitter or complete machinery units from manufacturers in South Germany, find waterways the ideal routing. Special shipments can be thrilling for the crew of the ‘Orion 2’. Then the voyage can take them somewhere far from the usual Elbe Lateral Canal route to Braun- schweig. Christoph Schwindt reports on a voyage to Austria with 62 locks. “Some of the chambers were so narrow that we just had a few centimetres free to right and left,” says Schwindt.
The Geesthacht lock does not present that problem. Yet the ‘Orion 2’ had to share the chamber with two in- land waterway motor vessels that had overtaken her beforehand. And the big chamber in Geesthacht was already full, at least it looked that way for the onlookers and sightseers on the quay.
Helmsman Florian Grüneberg actually wanted to steer the ship into the lock today, to gain valuable extra expe- rience. In view of the other two craft, however, he pre- ferred to leave this manoeuvre to the skipper. The
chamber slowly fills up. Roughly two hours to Schar- nebek now, and the boys will be off duty. Each has his own cabin, but they often sit together. Christoph Schwindt is the man on the guitar. According to his mates, he’s the best singer. Looking at the grill on deck and the cosy wooden table, one almost begins to dream of the traditional romance of seafaring. Yet life aboard an inland waterway vessel is not that simple. Being on the move for 20 days, this calls for under- standing from the family and/or the girlfriend. For all that, the three young men on the ‘Orion 2’ don’t readi- ly consider giving up, or taking a post on land. For them, their job involves a career with many opportuni- ties, good chances of advancement and a solid in- come. Florian Grüneberg says that “I grew up on board.” Every day calls for responsibility, team spirit and reliability, and that’s a good thing. ■
HINTERLAND ■
AT 22, FLORIAN GRÜNEBERG IS THE YOUNGEST ON BOARD
SHIP’S CAPTAIN CHRISTOPH SCHWINDT MAYBE ONLY 25, BUT HE’S THE ‘OLD SEA-DOG’ ON BOARD
Port of Hamburg Magazine | September 2018 | 19
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