Historic GDR boat goes to highest bidder

Offers in excess of €34,000 are being invited for the 35.82m inland vessel A Koebis although officials are reported hoping for around €200,000 when she is sold on 7 December 7 at Rostock’s Penta Hotel. Named after a WW1 German revolutionary, she was launched in 1974 and was one of four state boats used by the GDR government under Erich Honecker for cabinet meetings, conferences and lake tours with foreign dignitaries.

After the collapse of the GDR in 1990 the boat changed hands several times before being revamped for 1.5 million Marks and ending up as Vineta among the assets of the bankrupt P+S Werften which went bankrupt in 2012.

Built by VEB Yachtwerk Berlin-Koepenick, the Type RB 34 Vineta is 5.1m wide and draws 1.2m. For inland service, mainly in the Berlin region, she is powered by two four-stroke MAN D 2156T main engines each of 170kW and two Schottel rudder propellers with electro-hydraulic remote control providing 20km/h. She also has five auxiliary engines Type 6 VD 14,5/12-1 each of 60kW.

Built for a crew of six, seven catering staff and up to 50 guests,

A.Koebis

was operated and managed by the notorious Ministry of State Security (Stasi) and described as a floating conference room built like a “steel square” – although her lines are sleek.