Did you notice the neogothic style of the Portal der Rickmerswerft? It stands before us. It was built in 1857. The Portal der Rickmerswerft marked the entrance to a world-renowned shipbuilding empire.
Let’s step back in time. Imagine Bremerhaven in the mid-19th century. The air is thick with the smell of wood and the sea. Rickmer Clasen Rickmers founded the Rickmers Werft in 1834. He started small. His vision was huge. The Rickmers Werft quickly became a cornerstone of Bremerhaven’s growing maritime industry.
The Rickmers Werft’s initial location was right on the Geeste River bank. In 1836, the first ship built by Rickmers, the Catharina, was launched. By 1857, expansion demanded a new location. The Rickmers Werft moved to Geesthelle. This new area covered 65000 square meters.
Life on the Rickmers Werft was unique. Rickmers and his family lived in a villa on the grounds. Workers lived in company-owned housing. This created a strong sense of community.
Rickmers Werft became famous for innovation. In 1854, they launched the Ida Ziegler. It was one of the first German clippers. These ships were fast. They were designed for speed. Orders increased. Rickmers built his own fleet. He recognized the potential in shipping.
Until Rickmer Clasen Rickmers’ death in 1886, only wooden ships were built. He resisted iron shipbuilding. To compensate, he built solely for his own account. In 1890, the Etha Rickmers was built. It was Germany’s largest wooden full-rigged ship.
After Rickmers’ death, his sons modernized the Rickmers Werft. They shifted to iron shipbuilding. The Herzogin Sophie Charlotte was the first steel ship. It was built in 1894. It was later sold to Norddeutscher Lloyd. It became Germany’s first sail training ship.
By 1889, the company had grown. It was divided into three divisions. These were shipbuilding, shipping, and rice processing. The company became Rickmers Reismühlen, Rhederei und Schiffbau Aktiengesellschaft. The Rickmers family retained complete ownership of the original trading company shares.
One notable ship from Peter Rickmers’ era was the R. C. Rickmers. Built in 1906, it was a five-masted sailing vessel. It had an auxiliary steam engine. These ships were efficient. They were later used to transport weapons after World War I.
After 1914, the Rickmers Werft was initially closed. From 1915, it built minesweepers for the German Navy. In 1918, the shipyard and shipping company became financially independent. Paul Rickmers led the shipbuilding business. It was renamed Norddeutsche Werft GmbH.
The Portal der Rickmerswerft witnessed much change. After World War II, the Rickmers Werft initially survived on repair work. They built coastal motor ships and fishing vessels. In 1952, they secured their first foreign order.
In 1956, the full portal rotating tower crane was erected. It became a landmark. In 1967, the repair operations moved to Bremerhaven’s fishing port. In 1986, after a failed settlement attempt, the Rickmers Werft went into receivership.
Today, the Portal der Rickmerswerft remains. It is a protected monument since 1982. It stands as a reminder of Bremerhaven’s shipbuilding legacy. The site now houses the Bremerhaven branch of the Federal Employment Agency.
The Portal der Rickmerswerft is a window to the past. It connects us to the ambitions of Rickmer Clasen Rickmers. His vision shaped Bremerhaven’s maritime identity.