Boat builder Jens Christen faces ruin. On Thursday, 17 October 2024, a fire breaks out and destroys his life's work and his home. The owner of the traditional shipyard on the Binnenmüritz is left with nothing but the clothes he is wearing that day.
The fire brigade is quickly on the scene and fights the fire at the Christen boatyard with a large number of firefighters. Unfortunately without success. A firefighter is seriously injured when part of the building collapses. The cause of the devastating fire is still unclear.
Apprentice Ole Görrissen reports that the shipyard was a hive of activity when the fire broke out. He himself was at vocational school in Lübeck at the time when the news reached him. "I immediately drove to Waren in my car to help in any way I could." However, the fire spread so quickly that almost nothing could be saved despite joining forces. Apart from two newly built dinghy cruisers and the master's certificate, everything was lost.
In addition to the shipyard buildings, all the machinery, tools and several of the classic wooden boats fall victim to the fire. The moulded dinghy cruisers built here enjoy a very good reputation on the regatta scene. YACHT has already presented a racing 30 from Christen. Classic sailing and motor boats are also restored here.
Report on the 30 dinghy cruiser
Jens Christen's flat and the rented sailmaking workshop were also completely destroyed. "The most important thing, however, was that all the employees were able to get outside quickly," says Görrissen, speaking on behalf of his boss. Despite their own suffering, the team finds time to visit the injured firefighter in hospital and provide moral support. "It's always bad when a helper becomes a victim themselves. But fortunately he is on the road to recovery!"
The great sympathy and willingness to help shown by friends, colleagues, neighbours and everyone else who is affected by the disaster gives us hope. An alternative hall to enable the Christen boatyard to resume work as quickly as possible has been offered, as has the free use of machinery for a period of years. All ten employees are already working on the restart, which is due to take place this year.
Fundraising campaign for the Christen boatyard
For this purpose, a Fundraising campaign to make the reconstruction possible. Within a few days, the amount raised rose to over 80,000 euros. More than 850 people have already donated, with amounts ranging from 5 euros to 3000 euros. Every euro is needed to secure the existence of the boatyard.
