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Adler-Schiffe
Gmbh & Co, KG (formerly the Insel-
und
Halligreederei)
Founded in 1950 after
fisherman Captain Kurt Paulsen quit his previous work to concentrate
on the growing post-war tourist trade in the Northfriesien Islands,
which he had been working in as a sideline in the summer months.
In 1956, he was able to buy his first new ship, Adler, and this was
to become the marketing name of the operation, with subsequent ships
having "Adler" in their names.
The company was able to expand, particularly taking advantage of
vessel operators' opportunities to sell duty free goods. Other
shipping companies were bought over and operations extended through
the Kiel Canal and to Polish ports. High speed ferries and jetfoils
joined the fleet to serve this market.
The purchase of the Dutch Paddle Steamer "De Nederlander" extended
operations for the 2000 season into the "nostalgia" market. The
1905-built vessel has been fitted out in 1920s style and made
available for charter alongside a regular sailing schedule. Renamed
"Freya", the vessel revived the tradition of paddlers serving the
North Sea resorts of Germany and she was based at the offshore sand-bar resort
island of Sylt. An earlier "Freya" and her sister
"Frisia" served the island of Sylt until 1927, when the Hindenburg
Causeway replaced the short sea
crossing
Freya now sails on the Kiel Canal and on the Elbe river from
Hamburg
PADDLE
STEAMER
PS
Freya
Official
Website
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