What Crew Members Say About Heikendorf

On February 3, 2025, the iconic ferry 'Heikendorf' was officially sold to Adler Schiffe, a prominent shipping company based in Sylt, marking the end of an era for the SFK Kiel fleet. This vessel has provided memorable service for an impressive 42 years. Alongside another ferry, 'Schwentine', the 'Heikendorf' is making its departure as the final member of the famed 'Friedrichsort' class to leave the fleet. Launched in 1983 from the Lindenau shipyard in Friedrichsort, 'Heikendorf' holds the record as the longest-serving ferry within the SFK fleet, which also included other notable sister ships like 'Friedrichsort', 'Laboe', and 'Strande', all of which have since been retired. The handover journey commenced on the picturesque Kiel Fjord shortly before 11 a.m., with the 'Schwentine', built in Hamburg in 2008, following suit just an hour later after its successful test run. In conjunction with the sale of the ferries, a selection of spare parts including propellers and couplings have also been sold, further facilitating the transition. This significant change not only reflects the evolving landscape of maritime transport in Kiel but also brings nostalgia for many who have traveled aboard these vessels over the decades.

On August 3, 2019, at approximately 4:30 PM, a maritime incident occurred involving the passenger ship 'Heikendorf' and a 10-meter sailing yacht at the ferry point in Möltenort. Just one minute after departing from the pier, the 'Heikendorf' collided with the yacht, which was occupied by an elderly couple. Fortunately, the damage sustained by the yacht was minimal, primarily consisting of scratches on its port side. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported. The couple aboard the yacht had attempted to maneuver away from the approaching passenger vessel, successfully preventing a more significant collision. Following the incident, the yacht returned to Möltenort, while the 'Heikendorf' resumed its journey to the port of Laboe. Local authorities, including the police and the vessel 'Kiholm,' arrived on the scene to investigate the situation, initiating inquiries into the captain's navigation practices, as there are concerns he may not have noticed the approaching yacht.

On July 4, 2019, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the ferry 'Schilksee' encountered an electrical failure while navigating the Kiel Fjord near Möltenort, en route to Laboe. This unfortunate incident left the vessel stranded on a sandy bottom. To assist in the rescue, the tug 'Kitzeberg' from SFK was summoned to help refloat the ferry. However, the shallow waters proved challenging, making it difficult for the tug to reach the 'Schilksee'. Complicating matters, the towing wire connected to a rescue ring did not float, creating a barrier to recovery. Demonstrating remarkable courage and quick thinking, a swimmer stepped in to aid the situation. The swimmer successfully retrieved the towing wire and brought it closer to the 'Schilksee', allowing it to be properly connected to the stern of the vessel. Following this collaboration, the ferry was effectively pulled into deeper waters and returned safely to the SFK quay in Kiel for necessary inspections and investigations. For a detailed report that includes photos, visit https://www.kn-online.de/Lokales/Ploen/Heikendorf-Foerdedampfer-MS-Schilksee-laeuft-vor-Moeltenort-auf-Grund.