Exciting working day: Non-stop work as a boatswain on a museum ship

A Wednesday morning with drizzle. North German summer in Bremerhaven. André Stöter's mobile phone rings, he apologises - "there's always something" - and answers the call. It's his colleague from the office of the organisation that runs the "Schulschiff Deutschland". Stöter is now standing on the aft deck of the ship on the phone, calmly dealing with the call and all the other tasks that come at him almost by the minute.

André Stöter is the master mariner on the 1927 square-rigged sailing ship, a boatswain or, as he calls it, "the girl for everything". Keeping the ship in good shape, welcoming guests, providing volunteers with work, giving reporters an insight into the ship's operations - this and more is part of his job, which he took on three years ago and which has long since become a matter close to his heart.

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Stöter's day on the "training ship" begins at seven in the morning. That's when he turns the brass knob of the varnished wooden gate on the gangway for the first time. At this early hour, he is not the first person on the ship, which is never unguarded. Watchman Herbert Küster is already there today, one of many dedicated people "without whom it wouldn't work," says Stöter.

Stöter is one of a small number of permanent employees

The operation of the former training ship of the German merchant fleet is largely based on the commitment of volunteers. For example, looking after guests at major events such as the "Maritime Days" or the "Sail", when Bremerhaven is transformed into a sea of tall ships and crowds of visitors.

In the morning hours, Stöter checks the previous day's receipts and takes the first tour of the decks, which ends in the workshop - an impressive vault in the belly of the ship. In this paradise for craftsmen, the special history of the "Schulschiff Deutschland" becomes particularly tangible. In the former fresh water tank, a man-high area, welding chambers were later installed in which the prospective sailors and ship's operating technicians learnt and worked. Another room contains machines and tools, not all of which are still in use: Shaping machine, grinding machine, lathe, roller, drill - and an amazingly modern welding machine. "This is my own," says Stöter and laughs.

The 52-year-old learnt shipbuilding at a shipyard on the Lower Weser. His experience from years of shipyard work and his contacts still help him here on board today - whether he needs a special spare part, a repair company or just a tip.

On a workbench, music blares from a dusty radio next to a bucket full of paintbrushes. Pop music, but only because it's a busy day. When Stöter is alone, the CD player plays punk for the boatman. "Nothing works without my music," he says and laughs.

Watchstanders live on board for three days

The ship comes to life from half past nine. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the volunteers help Stöter with the maintenance of the ship. The day is discussed at ten o'clock. Today, six men and one woman in work clothes are sitting around the table in the cosy watchman's room. In the centre are coffee cups and chocolate biscuits. Stöter leans against the counter and casually distributes the tasks. A tarpaulin is to be stretched on the side deck - only the weather is not cooperating. "It's going to stop at eleven," someone quickly says on their mobile phone.

• More information: schulschiff-deutschland.de

Below deck, work on the old ship's electrical system is to be continued. This involves retrofitting residual current circuit breakers. A truly mammoth and sometimes tricky task. "It's adventurous," says Stöter. "In almost a hundred years, many electricians have had a go here." He doesn't have any circuit diagrams.

Almost all of the volunteers are pensioners. The team includes a master carpenter, a gas/water fitter and an electrician. "I urgently need them," says Stöter. I've already asked shipyards if they could send me their pensioners," he says with a grin. "I'm missing a colour minister!"

The so-called watch keepers have a special task. They are on board around the clock, for three days at a time. Then there is a change of watch. During the day, they receive visitors and help with any work that needs to be done. At night, they sleep in the former officers' cabins. "They have a huge responsibility," explains Stöter. Herbert Küster is one of the few who were on board when the ship was still in Bremen. "You have to be keen on ships," is his simple assessment of the qualifications for his position.

20 to 300 visitors look at the ship every day

While André Stöter and his team are in discussion, the motion detector keeps ringing. It tells the watchman that someone is coming on board via the gangway. It rings constantly from ten o'clock onwards. Between 20 and 300 visitors a day come to see the ship, which is open to the public 365 days a year. Sometimes more, sometimes fewer, depending on the time of year and holidays. All maintenance work is therefore carried out while the ship is in operation. Parts of the ship are cordoned off for this purpose, "but that often doesn't help," says Stöter. "'I just wanted to have a look ...' is often the response."

"Come in," the boatman welcomes the first day guests. "The grown-ups need to keep their heads down." Anyone can go on board and pay the entrance fee on site. Guided tours can be booked for groups of ten or more. Sometimes Stöter also explains things spontaneously. Visitors move freely on board and follow the signposted tour. Most of them respect the signs and barriers. "But I once discovered someone sleeping in a chamber," says Stöter.

Almost all areas of the training ship can be discovered in this way. For example, the former radio room or the chart house where the navigators determined the courses of the sailing training ship, which never had an engine. "Someone should wipe the dust off the compass," smiles Stöter as he guides visitors through the navigation area.

From here, the view falls over the tourist centre of Bremerhaven: the marina, lock, zoo by the sea, wooden boats, climate house, passing excursion boats and, of course, the deck of the training ship. The aft deck has just been freshly overhauled, as has the impressive steering gear. The ornate, freshly painted hull looks as good as new.

Dream job "school ship" with lots of variety

Many maintenance projects run in parallel on board. "The list of technical to-dos is long," says Stöter. Essential qualities in his job are being organised and being able to deal with people. He is sometimes accompanied by interns, for whom he devises small projects. "Maritime interest is not a bad thing either. After all, everything always revolves around the ship."

However, caution is required at this special workplace, which can sometimes sway during storms. Stöter once fell down the steep stairs into the forecourt. "It took so long - I could have ordered a pizza on the fly! Everything hurt." Fortunately, nothing bad happened to him.

"My CV is four pages long. I have acquired a lot of knowledge and can do a bit of everything. But I've never let go of the maritime world"

For the family man from Bremervörde, his job is nevertheless a dream job. "I've dreamed of working in the harbour in Bremerhaven all my life. The maritime world, working on the water, has always been my thing, it has never let go of me." One day, he discovered a small advert in the newspaper saying that they were looking for a ship operations foreman. "It sounded very varied, and as I have a broad background, it was a good fit."

After his training in shipbuilding and metal construction, Stöter worked at various shipyards, including in Cuxhaven. He supervised the construction of a luxury yacht in Lisbon three times. "I've changed jobs a lot, my CV is four pages long," he says. "I've acquired a lot of knowledge and can do a bit of everything." Including knots and rigging work - so when there's a bit of idle time, he knots new key rings for the souvenir shop on board.

Museum ship offers overnight accommodation

In the winter of 2021/2022, the man with the friendly eyes and the large tattoos on his arm finally signed on permanently to the training ship. This was shortly after his predecessor disembarked and retired. The previous summer, tugboats had moved the training ship from its former berth in Bremen to Bremerhaven in the hope that the centre of the seaside city would attract more tourists and guests than before.

Since then, the three-master has not only been a museum ship in the centre of the city, but also offers overnight accommodation. The ship or individual rooms can be booked for events. For example, for club evenings, breakfasts with friends and weddings. "We're up for any kind of fun," says Stöter. He is always involved, hands out presents and makes sure that the event technology is running. "That's fun."

On days like this, he works late, even if his working hours end at 3.30 pm on paper. "But I'd rather be on site and not get a nasty surprise afterwards than get out of here on time," he says. He also pops in at the weekend.

"The enemies of the teak deck are also mine, I'm a bit picky about that. That's also because I have great respect and reverence for this task"

Stöter is aware of the challenges involved in the "balancing act between preserving the cultural monument and the tourism business". He himself has grown so fond of looking after the ship that it doesn't faze him when some of the catering pan drippings land on the teak deck during a reception or when guests wear spiked heels at wedding receptions - despite being asked not to do so. "The enemies of the teak deck are also mine," he says and laughs. "I'm a bit fussy about it, almost obsessive. That's also because I have great respect and reverence for this task."

Stöter coordinates operations and ship maintenance

Below deck, overnight guests are reminded of earlier times everywhere. For example, there are pictures on the walls showing sleeping sailors in a room with hammocks, or a map showing the ship's twelve major Atlantic voyages.

Those who book the former captain's suite can even have breakfast in the captain's parlour. And under the eyes of the Grand Duke of Oldenburg, who hangs on the wall as a painting and was a great patron of the ship. The suite costs 205 euros including a champagne breakfast, Stöter reveals.

The newer cabins are more sober. "I call it upscale youth hostel charm," grins the ship's operations manager. At the request of many guests, there is also a cabin with a double bed instead of bunk beds - there could be many more. "The room is snatched out of our hands." Things are still a little spartan, however: the shared toilets and showers are located in the corridor.

The fact that tourist operations and ship maintenance have to be well coordinated is demonstrated by the access to the paint store in the former "anchor locker". This is now located behind the ladies' toilets and is a room in the forecastle through which the tall ship's arm-thick anchor chains run. As they are no longer in use, but the area is well ventilated, it was quickly repurposed.

Many other hiding places on the 86 metre long ship bear witness to its eventful history: Cloths are stacked up to below deck in the sail locker in the stern and pieces of furniture are stored in the forepeak. "We've already cleared out a lot. Otherwise you won't get anywhere," says Stöter.

After work with a beer on the "training ship"

A new mammoth task soon awaits him. A shipyard visit is imminent. The last one was in 2015. He will probably spend not only his working day, but also one or two evenings on board in the shipyard. After all, in addition to "Sail 2025", the ship's centenary in 2027 is also approaching. "And when an old lady turns a hundred, she likes to dress up," jokes Stöter. Although he is quite serious.

You can feel that a bond has grown between the ship and its boatswain. André Stöter lives his job as an all-round carer for the steel lady. You can't tell her age from the devoted attention she receives. "Everyone always says she's in great shape. Only I know the naughty bits," says the ship's operations manager with a grin.

He contributes a lot of ideas and wants to advance the activities on the ship. "I identify with it," he says. After work, he sits on the aft deck with a beer in his hand and enjoys the atmosphere.

His predecessor did the job for 46 years. The likeable boatswain of the "Schulschiff Deutschland" is unlikely to last that long due to his age. "But if I have my way, I'd like to stay on for many more years. "It's hard work, but it's fun!"