Viking ship Freya” in Prien: New location for the old treasure?

Viking ship Freya” in Prien: New location for the old treasure?

The Viking ship “Freya”, a well-known attraction on Lake Chiemsee, was recently drained after sinking in September 2024. Until recently, the ship was at the Schraml bathing area in Prien, where it was temporarily stored by Manfred Eckerl, one of the co-owners. The exact circumstances that led to the sinking on Monday night are still unclear. The “Freya” was an original backdrop from the children’s film “Wickie on a Great Trip” and attracted numerous visitors.

The salvage work turned out to be complicated as the fire department installed an oil barrier around the ship to prevent environmental pollution from the diesel engine, oil and batteries. The 17 meter long and 11 tonne ship was finally pulled to the shore using a cable winch. Despite spending almost 250,000 euros on the operation, the “Freya” has not been able to transport guests since last season because it did not receive an MOT. In addition, tens of thousands of euros were missing for the necessary renovation.

Uncertain future and possible further use

At the moment it is unclear whether the insurance will cover the damage to the technology, which affects the future of the ship. Eckerl said that there are already initial ideas for continuing to use the ship if the insurance doesn't pay. Suggestions range from a children's playground to a café or book room. Mayor Andreas Friedrich hopes for a “retirement home” for the ship that many people can admire. A possible location could be in an amusement park by a white water slide.

However, Eckerl points out that crucial costs and regulations have to be taken into account and that there is currently no concrete agreement with the market town about the whereabouts of the ship. There have been targeted inquiries, but there are still no concrete interested parties. Friedrich emphasizes that the ship cannot be set up in Prien due to its size, which makes the search for a suitable location even more difficult.

The insurance company's decision is still pending, and until then the further use of the “Freya” remains an exciting question. The challenges the team faces cannot be underestimated, but the desire to keep this attraction open to the public in some form is strong.

Further details on this topic can be found in the reports from ovb online and sueddeutsche.de be read.