Vessel "Gorch Fock" begins its training endeavor
The Unusual Training Voyage of the Gorch Fock
The German Navy's tall-ship training vessel, the Gorch Fock, embarked on an unusual training voyage in August 2025. This journey took the ship across the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, stopping at the ports of Bremerhaven, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and Flensburg.
The Gorch Fock, a traditional sailing ship 81.44 meters long, set sail from Kiel harbor and is expected to return on September 16th. The ship's itinerary was not your average training cruise, as it spanned multiple international ports, a rarity for such voyages.
Recruitment activities and public engagement events were the focus during the stops in these four cities. This strategic initiative aimed to attract young talent to the German Navy and raise public awareness of naval training. While detailed reports on each event are limited, the sequence and choice of several distinct northern European port stops suggest a special deployment pattern.
In Bremerhaven, the Gorch Fock is expected to participate in "Sail 2025" and the Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has announced his visit to the event. Thirty young people are already on board for the Kiel to Bremerhaven leg of the journey as part of the "Bundeswehr Discovery Days".
In Amsterdam, 60 young people will join the Gorch Fock as part of the "Sea. Gorch Fock. Experience" project. Arrival in Flensburg is scheduled for September 14th. The Navy will participate in the "Day of Monuments" with an "Open Ship" in Flensburg.
After Amsterdam, a new training voyage is planned. The Gorch Fock will continue its journey as far as Wilhelmshaven with the additional crew. The ship will then return to its mooring in Kiel.
Throughout the voyage, the Gorch Fock has been serving as an ambassador of Germany on the world's seas. The training ship will also be used to attract new talent in collaboration with units of the 2nd Fleet.
The Gorch Fock's voyage is taking place under sunny skies and a light breeze, making for an ideal training environment. This unusual training voyage not only trains officer cadets but also serves as a platform for recruitment and public engagement.
The Gorch Fock, amidst its unique training voyage, is planned to explore sports activities during the stops at various cities. In Amsterdam, for instance, the "Sea. Gorch Fock. Experience" project includes sporting events as part of the recruitment activities.
Furthermore, the Gorch Fock's return to Kiel after the voyage is expected to be followed by another training voyage, possibly involving sports as a means of recruitment and public engagement.
