Photo: Torsten Bätge, Hamburg · GFDL · Wikimedia Commons

Gustav Zeuner

Germany's only faithfully restored chain steam tug, displayed on land as a museum ship in Magdeburg's Wissenschaftshafen (science harbor).

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About the museum

The chain steam tug was built in 1894/95 at the shipyard in Dresden-Übigau and bears the name of the mechanical engineer Gustav Zeuner, whose invention is the basis of the two water-jet turbines on board – an early forerunner of today's jet propulsion. As a vessel of the second generation of chain tugs, it hauled itself upstream along a chain laid on the riverbed using a chain gripper wheel, towing barges along with it. It operated on the Elbe from 1895 to 1931.

After chain towing came to an end, the hull served for decades as a boathouse and restaurant in Magdeburg-Fermersleben; in 1988 it was listed as a historic monument. In 2005 the wreck was salvaged and brought to the Wissenschaftshafen. From 2006 to 2010 the ship, just over 55 meters long, was reconstructed in faithful detail, and in November 2010 it was presented as a museum ship.

Today the Gustav Zeuner sits on dry land in the Areal historischer Schiffe (historic ships area) at the Handelshafen, together with a historic bucket-chain dredger, rail vehicles and an old swing bridge. It is maintained by GISE mbH in cooperation with the Jobcenter (job center); during the summer season the ship can be visited on free guided tours.

Highlights

Germany's only faithfully restored chain steam tug
Chain gripper wheel and water-jet turbines based on Gustav Zeuner's design
Free guided tours during the summer season
Historic ships area with a bucket-chain dredger, rail vehicles and a swing bridge

Founded: 2010
Operated by: GISE mbH in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Jobcenter Magdeburg

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

According to the city of Magdeburg, the area is freely accessible and the tours of the ship are free; the operator does not list any prices.