Berth, hope doves and elephant poo
First, the good news: I’ve got my eye on a mooring, which is relatively central and attractive. The catch is this: to ensure the ship can fit there, a dolphin (pile) that is in the way needs to be removed. A specialist firm that can handle this sort of work will have to be commissioned. A permit may also be required. In addition, permission for the transport must be obtained. Once all that is sorted, the ship can be moved there.
The situation reminds me a little of the time in the Ark, when the dove finally flew back with a twig in its beak. After long, gruelling months and hard work, that was a sign of hope that the hardest part would soon be over. I can’t imagine spending months in the belly of a dark, cramped boat crammed with a bunch of animals… Whenever things got tough on the ship, I consoled myself with the thought that mucking out elephant poo was surely even harder. No doubt Mrs Noah began to dream when the dove arrived… of a new life… with regained freedom, without confinement, darkness and without elephant poo! Just as I dream – of having more free time again, moments on deck – and times without mountains of rust (there’s always a bit of it on the ship!).
We’ve been working hard and have achieved a great deal! The temporary staircase to the guest rooms is finished, as are the floors in the living area and the utility room; we have also started installing the ventilation system and the new electrical wiring. Almost all the interior railings have been derusted and painted, the drinking water is flowing, and a waste water tank has been completed… thanks to Tobias, who spent five hours drilling through all the metal plates that were in the way!
Before the move, the following still needs to be done – and paid for:
- A front door must be built and fitted by hand – precision work down to the millimetre, as the side of the ship is slanted! (1,000 euros)
- Painting: The side facing the pier needs to be sanded and painted
to make it look nice – at the landlord’s request (500 euros)
- The most important electrical components It needs to be replaced. The old wiring is a serious safety hazard – see the photo! The electrician was quite horrified. (€1,000)
- Pumps Water and waste water connections should be installed (500 euros)
- Tidying up: Anything that’s no longer needed should be cleared off the boat… (0 euros – just man-hours!)
– The Wall panelling for indoor use are to be painted (300 euros).
- Permits must be obtained and granted.
– Transport costs: By pusher tug to the new berth (500–1,000 euros)
All in all: a huge amount of work and a cost of around 3,300 euros!
I can't manage all this on my own.
I am grateful for any practical help – even if it’s just for two hours – for every donation – even if it’s just one euro – and for every prayer – even if it’s just a sigh of „Oh Lord, help me“.
