This year, 20 million kroner is to be spent on renovating the Danish training ship Georg Stage thanks to contributions from three charitable funds, DR reports.
Georg Stage is a fully rigged, steel-hulled sailing ship that is used for maritime training. Each year it becomes a home for 60 young people. However, Asser Amdisen, the head of Georg Stage Stiftelsen, the organisation that owns the ship, explained that its metallic construction necessitates the renovation.
“The ship is made of steel and it disappears over time. Now all of the innards of the ship will be taken out. We will then go over all of the steel and change it where it is broken down,” he said.
Emphasis on function
The ship dates back to 1935 but Amidsen emphasised that the focus of the renovation will be on function as opposed to preserving the ship as an exhibit.
“Georg Stage isn’t a museum ship. Running a maritime school will always take priority. We would like to keep the old, but in relation to safety, the environment and the quality of teaching, we must renew it ourselves,” he said.
The three funds donating to the project are AP Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til almene Formaal, Aktieselskabet Dampskibsselskabet Orient’s Fond, and Augustinus Fonden.
