History:
1895 commissioned
1895-1919 Lappegrund
station
1921 the new Voelund
135 h.p. populsion engine had been installed
1921-1940 Gedser
Rev station
1940-1945 moved
to Store Baelt near
Kalundborg during WW II
1945-1954 Gedser
Rev station
1954 the lighthsip
has been involved in collisions for many times during her working life.
The most serious collision was in 1954, when she was sunk within a few
minutes. The seaman in duty had just time to switch in the alarm, so
all men below had enough time to come on deck and were saved. Unfortunately
the seamen on duty had been throw overboard and drowned
1954-1972
Gedser Rev station
1972 decommissioned
and put up for sale at the lightship warehouse on Holmen, Copenhagen.
The Danish National Museet was able to secure the lighthsip for posterity.
The money (50.000 kr) to purchase the lightship was donated by the A.P.
Moeller Fund. Since the purchase, the lighthsip has been looked after
by a group of old-age pensioners, belonging to the organisation "Three
Crowns Active", who, - without payment - have been maintaining
the lighthsip
January 2001 the
lightship had been towed to Hvide Sande, where it had been restored
at the A/S Hvide Sande Skibs- og Bådebyggeri. The money for restoration
(4.5 million Danish kroner) was once again donated by the A.P. Møller
Fund
November 5th, 2003
a tow boat of the Hanstholm Bugserservice towed the lightship back to
Copenhagen, where they arrived at November 7th, 2003.
November 16th and
23th, 2003 "Open Ship" from 11am to 3 pm for all lighthsip
enthusiasts
Today Lightship
No. XVII is afloat at Nyhavn in Copenhagen as a characteristic example
of the effords of generations to keep the shiping safe in Danish waters.
But with her presence she also adds to the authentic picture of the
old harbour, where now cars are parked close together, but where once
people were bussy on- and offloading the local packetboats and potatoeships.
May 27th, 2009 Today
Denmarks Nationalbank issued a new 20-krone coin with lightship XVII
on its backside. The artist is Karin Lorentzen. A picture of the coin
can be found here.
Opening hours:
The lightship is open to the public every Saturday from 11am to 3 pm
in June, July and August and can be visited in the Nyhavn in Copenhagen.
