German Maritime Heritage Foundation: Federal government gives 30 million for traditional ships and historic boats
Initially, the 2025 federal budget only earmarked one million euros for the establishment of the new foundation. Now the federal government is going significantly further: at its meeting on the 2026 federal budget on 14 November, the Budget Committee decided to provide the German Maritime Heritage Foundation (DSME) with 10 million euros in each of the years 2026 to 2028 - a total of 30 million euros. This was announced by the Maritime Hamburg Foundation, which is setting up the new foundation together with the Federal Ministry of Transport.
German Maritime Heritage Foundation: "A milestone"
The foundation is intended to preserve the national maritime heritage, explains the board of the Maritime Hamburg Foundation: "This is a milestone for the many thousands of volunteers who are active on board the traditional ships and other maritime objects along the German coasts." The funding gives those affected a reliable perspective. This is important because much of the work is done on a voluntary basis, they say.
The 2025 budget provided for significantly less. This included Five million euros for traditional shipping planned - for new registrations or technical modifications, for example. An additional one million euros was earmarked for the preservation of historical maritime objects. This was to be used, for example, to preserve historic pleasure craft, traditional ships or historic harbour facilities and make them accessible to the public. This part will now be significantly expanded with the new decision.
More about traditional ships:
Subsidies possible soon
The increase from one million to thirty million euros is due in part to the commitment of Bremerhaven SPD MP Uwe Schmidt, according to the Hamburg Maritime Foundation. Schmidt, a member of the budget committee, was actively involved in the negotiations. He says:
In addition to financial resources, we need permanent, full-time structures that work together with the many volunteers to preserve our maritime heritage. This is the only way to ensure that future generations throughout Germany have access to our rich maritime history. Uwe Schmidt
This is precisely where the DSME comes in and plays a crucial role in preserving these treasures, the MP concluded. As soon as the foundation begins its work, interested parties will be able to submit applications for funding. However, it is not yet clear exactly when this will be.
