On the Austrian Mondsee, the largest excursion ship sets sail again with the "MS Mondseeland". This resumed operation on May 13, 2022 after extensive revision in the dry.

On April 29th, it was craned back into the water in a spectacular action. With state-of-the-art technology and a stylish design, the ship completed the official inspection trips of the state of Upper Austria and has been on course for daily round trips and charter trips since May 14th.

Brand new - with a weight of almost 60 tons, a length of 24,3 meters, a width of 5,6 meters and a total height of 5,5 meters, the former excursion boat now presents itself as a modern ship with a yacht atmosphere. With its two passenger decks for up to 150 passengers, the Mondseeland reaches a top speed of 21 km/h and has a draft of 1,2 metres. 150 of the 100 spaces are covered and protected from the weather (50 of which are indoors). The teams from “Wögerer GmbH” Interior Design/Steyr and “Luger & Maul”/Wels were responsible as architects.

“The investment in the general refurbishment of such a large passenger ship and the new construction of the landing stage is also important in terms of infrastructure for Mondsee and nationally. This gives the Salzkammergut a wonderful new range of shipping options for locals and tourists alike,” emphasizes Anton Hargassner jr. the importance for the region.

The journey up to that point was not easy. Two heavy-duty cranes lifted the then 55-tonne ship out of the lake in snowstorms in November. More than 20.000 hours of work and spectacular heavy transport through half the town were necessary so that the guests could enjoy this unique event for local shipping. After the opening speeches by the owner, those responsible for the shipyard and Captain Franz Meindl, the blessing was given by Pastor Reinhard Bell and the official cutting of the ribbon by the Hargassner family, Managing Director Christoph Buchbauer, Mayor of Mondsee Josef Wendtner, Provincial Councilor Markus Achleitner, authorized signatory of ÖSWAG Shipyard Harald Böhm and the two captains of the Mondseeland Franz Meindl and Karl Kinast.

The 13-year-old Mondseeland had about 18.000 operating hours. The crew in the dry dock in Mondsee carried out the total gutting of the fuselage from ten tons of fittings and technology completely independently. Not even the half-ton Fiat powertrain engine or the steering wheel stayed in place. Then special companies took over. With the ÖSWAG shipyard from Linz and the engine specialists from “Hoffmann Helmut GmbH” in Ohlsdorf/Gmunden, the operator brought full professionals on board.

At peak times, up to 25 men worked on the ship at the same time, plus five technicians in the Linz shipyard. At the same time, the 204 HP/160 KW ship engine originally developed for the Navy was dismantled into more than 2000 parts, cleaned, six cylinders were ground flat and reassembled as new.

Technological development is taken into account with a high level of security. Safety bulkheads can separate the hull into five self-contained spaces. New life jackets, new searchlights and an automatic fire extinguishing system improve safety for people and ship.

Initially, only the steel outer skin remained. After the complete cleaning and sanding, the new paintwork and anti-fouling followed. Of course, the conversions were subject to the ES-TRIN regulations of the European shipping standard, for example in the control, engine room ventilation and bilge systems. The overhauled engine is subject to the current, strict emission standards.

From February, the refurbishment picked up speed. The first installations came: an echo sounder, a radar system, the latest nautical systems and a co-pilot. The entire technology from the hydraulics to the alternator has been renewed. The power of the bow thruster has even been doubled for better maneuverability and safety. Bilge systems (pumps) and Schottel (rudder propeller) were also renewed. A total of 13 tons of technology, equipment and furniture were newly installed.

A special feature in the engine room is that the first and only pellet heating system in the world that goes to sea is located there. The Hargassner "Nano-PK" pellet boiler with 12,2 kW will provide cozy warmth and hot water in the future - particularly important in winter.

The CO2-neutrally heated Nano is a compact heat miracle that, together with a Hargassner buffer tank and weekly storage container for pellets, the shared engine waste heat and new, triple-glazed windows, ensures a significant improvement in the ecological footprint. The heating output corresponds to that of a single-family house. Biomass heating technology at its finest. In normal operation, heating and hot water are even converted exclusively with the engine heat.

“It is definitely unique that this ship is heated with pellets. It is therefore the first and probably the only ship in the world that is equipped in this way and thus improves its ecological footprint," says Markus Hargassner, Managing Director of Hargassner Heiztechnik from Weng.