Wilsun
Wilsun is a former German island passenger ferry that later became a Dutch party ship. Built in 1927 by Meyer Werft at Papenburg as Langeoog IV, it originally served the route between Langeoog and Norddeich.[1][2] After later service for Spiekeroog under the name Spiekeroog IV and then in the Netherlands as Nanja, the vessel was renamed Wilsun in 2007 and has since been moored in Rotterdam.[1][2]
History
The vessel was built in 1927 for the municipal shipping service of Langeoog and entered service as Langeoog IV on the ferry route between Langeoog and Norddeich on the German Wadden Sea coast.[1] In 1938 it was lengthened by 3.5 metres at Papenburg for service on the Langeoog–Bensersiel route.[1][2]
In April 1945, after the bombing of Langeoog, the ship was used as a hospital ship.[1][2] In 1949 it received two new Deutz engines rated at 110 hp each, and in 1961 these were replaced by two MWM engines.[1]
In 1971 the ferry was sold to Nordseebad Spiekeroog GmbH and transferred to neighbouring Spiekeroog, where it served the route between Neuharlingersiel and Spiekeroog under the name Spiekeroog IV.[1][2]
By 1981 the ship had been sold to operators in Harlingen and renamed Nanja.[1] In Dutch service it was used as an excursion and fishing boat, and it later passed through several owners in Friesland.[1]
In 2007 the vessel was renamed Wilsun and recorded as owned by Zen Beheer BV of Voorburg.[1] According to Historischer Hafen Rotterdam, it has since served as a permanently moored party ship in Rotterdam.[2]
Design and characteristics
In its later form, Wilsun had an overall length of 31 metres, a beam of 6.38 metres, and a draught of about 1.40 metres.[1][2] De Binnenvaart records the ship's original length as 25.29 metres, reflecting its pre-1938 configuration before lengthening.[1]
The vessel was powered by two MWM diesel engines of 125 hp each in its later career.[1] De Binnenvaart gives a passenger capacity of 110.[1]
Service legacy
Under its original and later German names, the vessel formed part of the traditional ferry networks linking the East Frisian Islands with the mainland.[1][2] Its careers as Langeoog IV and Spiekeroog IV connected it with two separate island communities before its later conversion to Dutch excursion and entertainment use.[1]
References
External links
Media related to Wilsun (ship, 1927) at Wikimedia Commons- De Binnenvaart entry
- Historischer Hafen Rotterdam entry
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