Cologne –

Heinz Erkens lifts the cautious level that protects a large piece of furniture from dirt in the salon. A piece of a small elegant blue sofa appears. It dates from 1952, says the treasurer of the “Association of Friends and Supporters of the Historic Council Ship MS Stadt Köln” and Queen Elizabeth II definitely sat on it. Perhaps other celebrities who were guests on the city administration’s elegant reception and excursion ship enjoyed the view of the city here. French President Charles de Gaulle, for example, US President John F. Kennedy or pop star Michael Jackson. All of them and many other people from world history let their visitors to Cologne ride the Rhine boaters on the council ship built in 1938. Until it fell into a long slumber about 20 years ago.

Shortly before the historic prestige steamer rusted towards its ultimate demise in the Niehler Hafen, the rescue came. In order to get the 53-meter-long “MS Stadt Köln”, once one of the most modern boats on the Rhine, afloat again, the friends’ association has raised around 1.7 million euros in funding and donations over the past few years.

Specialists lend a hand

In the meantime, the underwater hull has been renewed, new wooden planks have been laid, the heating and electrical systems started up again and the ship was given a new coat of paint. For several months in the “Kölner Schiffswerft Deutz” in the Mülheim harbor, specialists worked on the listed gem. Because the council ship is now looking good again after about half of the necessary work, the association had it towed to the Rheinauhafen a few days ago. It was here before and here it gets the attention it deserves.

At a reception, club chairman Udo Giesen now showed invited guests through the interior of the floating construction site. In the “Obermeister-Appartment” – this is where the city leaders withdrew for confidential talks with their guests – it becomes clear that there is still a long way to go before the “MS Stadt Köln” is completely resurrected.

Club receives “Silver Hemisphere”

The wooden ceiling is rotten due to leaks and is now in individual parts on the wall. The planks of the main deck also urgently need to be replaced. The upcoming third construction phase, which mainly affects the interior of the ship, costs around 800,000 euros – money that is not yet available, according to Giesen: “We hope for funds from the federal government, the state and the NRW Foundation.” Both diesel engines can be restarted, which is estimated to cost around 400,000 euros again. The renovation could be completed in 2024 or 2025. But the association is already being rewarded for its commitment: the volunteers in Berlin will shortly be presented with the “Silver Hemisphere” award from the German National Committee for Monument Protection. “That gives a boost,” says Heinz Erkens.

The ship is to have its final berth in the Rheinauhafen near the Severinsbrücke. The development association has signed a leasing contract with the city. Among other things, a permanent exhibition on Cologne’s trade and shipping history is planned on board, says Heinz Erkens. Rentals for wedding parties are also conceivable. As the owner, the city has a right of access for representative purposes.

Much of the old charm should come back on board. The fact that the “MS Stadt Köln”, which was christened “MS Hansestadt Köln” in 1938, is a product of the Nazi era should not play a major role in the future. The ship was actually supposed to be used for the 1940 International Transport Exhibition, which was canceled due to the war. The original equipment of the ship included wall paneling showing a map of the “Greater German Reich” including a swastika and which was expanded in the 1950s.

The Friends’ Association handed over Josef Pabst’s work to the NS Documentation Center on permanent loan five years ago. “We don’t necessarily want to display swastikas,” says Heinz Erkens.