Spectacular Variety of Ships at the 837th HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY

Whether historical, in active service for maritime safety or in use for research: the diversity of ships at the HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY from 8 to 10 May 2026 is overwhelming and ranks among the biggest visitor attractions of this cosmopolitan harbour festival. Sea dogs, onlookers and families alike look forward to authentic ship decks, large steering wheels, state-of-the-art technology, and stories from the crews.

Senator Dr Melanie Leonhard: “The ships symbolise the city’s maritime heritage and at the same time demonstrate the impressive expertise concentrated in Germany’s largest port. Our floating main attractions create an impressive backdrop, and a wide range of historical and contemporary vessels can also be experienced up close as part of the popular Open Ship.”

High-tech on the high seas

Over the three days of the HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY, visitors can look forward to one of Germany’s most modern research vessels. On board the “Atair”, the largest ship of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, visitors can learn what high-tech equipment is required, for example, to locate wrecks or map the seabed.

The “Coriolis” also welcomes guests on board. On this research vessel belonging to the Helmholtz Centre Hereon, visitors can learn about cutting-edge environmental research for more climate-friendly shipping and gain an overview of the innovative equipment on board.

With the “Vektor” from the Fraunhofer Centre for Maritime Logistics, another research vessel will be visiting the HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY. Its highly modern equipment enables, for example, detailed real-time maritime situational awareness. On board, autonomous technologies are tested and maritime situational pictures are generated.

Guardians of the seas in action

On numerous operational vessels, guests can explore modern technology and onboard functionality. The crew of the patrol vessel “Potsdam” from the Federal Police Maritime Unit provides information about life and work on board as well as career opportunities. With a virtual reality headset, guests can even experience a Federal Police operation at sea.

On the fisheries protection vessel “Seefalke”, visitors can learn about the tasks of fisheries protection and how important the monitoring of fishing gear and equipment is for preserving fish stocks at sea.

The multipurpose vessel “Neuwerk” is not only equipped for pollution response, but also impresses as an icebreaker, emergency tug and firefighting vessel.

Fascination of the tall ships

The legendary tall ships never fail to captivate visitors. A particularly striking sight is the Norwegian three-masted barque “Statsraad Lehmkuhl” – at over 98 metres in length, one of the largest sailing ships still in operation in the world.

Just as impressive is the four-masted barque “Peking”, built in 1911 at Blohm & Voss and having rounded Cape Horn more than 30 times. The “Rickmer Rickmers”, built in 1896 and one of Hamburg’s best-known museum ships, also warmly welcomes visitors on board.

Witnesses of maritime history

Lovingly restored traditional and museum ships, such as the steam tug “Tiger” from 1910, tell of a hard working life at sea.

Visitors can explore one of Germany’s oldest still-seaworthy lightships: the “Elbe 3” from 1888. The Finkenwerder offshore fishing cutter “Präsident Freiherr von Maltzahn” (1928), with its 320 square metres of sail area, and the steam launch “Otto Lauffer” from 1928, once used as a harbour police vessel, illustrate historic harbour life.

In the Hansahafen, the floating crane “Saatsee” from 1917 and the “Schutendampfsauger IV” from 1909 invite visitors on board. The great era of salvage tugs on the world’s oceans is recalled by the historic ocean-going tugs “Elbe” and “Holland”. These over-50-metre-long powerhouses from the 1950s were among the most powerful vessels of their time; the “Elbe” was even considered the most powerful tug in the world in the 1960s.

Today, both ships tell their eventful story as museum vessels. The “Holland” is also celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Big ships, big amazement

At first sight of their enormous silhouettes, it becomes clear: here stands a vast “floating skyscraper”. Guests can look forward to nine ocean giants and dream about their next holiday.

This year’s line-up includes: AIDAluna, AIDAperla, AIDAsol, “Hanseatic Spirit”, “Mein Schiff 7”, “MSC Preciosa”, “Norwegian Sky”, “Vasco da Gama”, and the river cruise ship “MS Sans Souci”.

Service

An overview of all offers and further useful tips is available online at www.hafengeburtstag.hamburg.