Museumswerft

What secrets do the weathered timbers of the Museumswerft hold? This isn’t just any shipyard. It’s the last historic shipyard in Greifswald, nestled on the north side of the Ryck River. The Museumswerft whispers stories of a time when sailboats ruled the waves. Originally the Buchholz shipyard, founded in 1911 by Richard Buchholz, the Museumswerft has witnessed over a century of maritime history. The shipyard thrived even after the decline of sailing ships, experiencing a resurgence after World War II thanks to the rebuilding of the German fishing industry. Up until the fall of the Berlin Wall, it primarily served as a repair hub for fishing cutters. The site itself exudes history. You can still see the original ship construction hall and the slipway built in 1935. Later additions, constructed in 1940 and 1941, further expanded the shipyard’s capabilities. These structures, built with classic carpentry, stand as testaments to a bygone era. Imagine the skilled hands that once toiled within these walls. The Museumswerft wasn’t just a place of work. It was a lifeline. Richard’s son, Willi Buchholz, took over despite severe injuries sustained during wartime mine clearance. He steered the shipyard until 1952. In the postwar years, the shipyard embarked on a significant project. It produced a series of wooden cutters for the state-owned fishing industry, including three 17-meter cutters and two 24-meter cutters. A landmark achievement in 1951 was the launch of the “Neues Deutschland.” This 32-meter training and research cutter was likely the largest wooden ship built in Germany after 1945. Facing the threat of expropriation by the East German government, the Buchholz family relocated to Berlin in 1952. The shipyard, then known as VEB Boots- und Reparaturwerft, became the largest repair yard for the Sassnitz cutter fleet. Thirteen 12-meter wooden fishing cutters were built, along with specialized vessels for the technical fleet and passenger ships. In 1971, the shipyard became part of the Stralsund Volkswerft. Its focus shifted to repairing 17-meter cutters, supplying new ship constructions, and producing consumer goods. The last vessel built here was a replica of the Zeesboot “Sunddriewer” in 1983-84. Operations ceased in 1990. Recognizing its historical significance, the Museumshafen Greifswald e.V. secured landmark status for the slipway in 1995, followed by the entire shipyard in 1997. Today, the Museumswerft serves as a self-help workshop for owners of historic ships, a testament to its enduring legacy.