As part of a Whitsunday voyage from Bergen to Shetland, the crew and trainees will be treated to a celebratory welcome from harbour tugs Knab and Kebister when the ship arrives at Lerwick on Friday morning.
Later that evening, Captain Marcus Seidl will host a reception for invited guests in the ship’s quarterdeck to mark this special occasion, with a presentation being made by Lerwick Port Authority.
The ship’s 2016 itinerary includes six visits to Lerwick comprising Navy charters, sail training experiences for trainees and Norwegian student exchange trips. The ship has called at Lerwick every year since 1988 and its seasonal visits are now a regular feature on the port’s annual calendar. Statsraad Lehmkuhl has been operated by a Foundation since 1978 but she did also visit Lerwick in earlier years – archive records note visits in 1948, 1950 and 1967.
Haakon Vatle, Director and General Manager of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Foundation said “We are proud and honoured to have had more than hundred arrivals to the beautiful port of Lerwick, and are so grateful for the kind hospitality and service shown to our ship throughout the years. We hope to continue and expand our good relationship with the Shetland community and look forward to a hundred new arrivals in the future.”
Statsraad Lehmkuhl will be open for the public to visit on Friday 13 May between 1pm and 4pm.