“chug boat” tour through Husum Harbour

A short interview with Captain Loy, harbour master

(5 July 2021) Anyone going to the North Sea should definitely visit Husum. There is much to discover in this town on the Wadden Sea. Those who want to go on a marvellous mystery tour can do so in a boat.

Since 2015, Wolfgang Loy and his wife have been organising tours in Husum harbour on the chug boat “Möwe Willi”. Visitors learn a lot about the port, seafaring, the North Sea with its dangers, but also about the economic development of the port and the present challenges. After one such harbour tour, we had the opportunity to ask Captain Wolfgang Loy a few questions.

Swiss Standpoint: Mr Loy, your boat is called “Möwe Willi” (Seagull Willi). What kind of boat is it and how did it get the name?

Wolfgang Loy: The boat is a former lifeboat of a Danish cargo ship, built in the early 1960s. The cargo ship has been decommissioned in the meantime. The lifeboat has been preserved. The dimensions are: length 30 feet (9 metres) and beam or width 10 feet (3m). It was designed to accommodate about 40 seamen in case of an emergency at sea.

“Möwe Willi” had accompanied me on my long sea voyages and told me about her life. The stories were of particular interest to my daughters. They even resulted in a children’s book.

How did you come up with the idea of offering harbour tours?

We had seen a similar concept in another small port and the idea grew to have a go in Husum.

I suppose the harbour tours are not your main profession?

I was employed in the maritime industry. For 20 years, I navigated cargo ships worldwide as a captain. For about 10 years, I have been working in a shipping office in Hamburg.

“In a storm, ships are safer than government buildings because they are more mobile”

You are also a harbour master. What exactly is your job?

I am the honorary harbour master at Husum’s inland harbour. The inland harbour is leased by the “Husum Harbour Community of Interest” and my job is it, among other things, to assign berths to traditional sailing vessels and to supply them with electricity and fresh water.

On the harbour tour you could learn a lot about Husum, the harbour, its people and the sea. What role does the sea still play for the local people here today?

Well, the coast lives from the sea. Goods are transported; the sea, with its variety of fish is important for fishing. The sea is attracting us people, we seek recreation by the sea, relaxation and bathing pleasures. The sea is fascinating and threatening at the same time.

It is apparent that you love Husum. How would you characterise your home town and its inhabitants?

It’s the small “grey town by the sea” and yet it’s very colourful. It’s a town of short distances. You can find everything in the relatively small town centre: a baker, a butcher, a fishmonger, merchants, bookshops, a post office, clothes and shoe shops and, and, and. Nothing is missing.

We have around 22,000 inhabitants. The people are a little reserved at first, friendships are not necessarily made at the first moment, yet they are very cosmopolitan and they are always looking beyond the dyke.

What are the challenges Husum and its inhabitants face in the near future?

Husum lives from a healthy mix: the port economy with fishing, seafaring and shipyard operations. The State Office for Coastal Protection, the National Park and marine protection have an important quarter in Husum. The Bundeswehr is present with two barracks. Husum has a large industrial area, including a manufacturing industry. There are two grammar schools, a vocational college and a large schooling and training institution for young people with disabilities (Theodor-Schäfer-Werk). A greater focus on tourism would be desirable and in this context there is always some patching-up to be done here and there.

Captain Loy, thank you very much for the interview.

(Further information: https://www.hafenrundfahrt-husum.de)

The town By the grey shore, by the grey sea and close by lies the town – The fog rests heavy round the roofs, And through the silence roars the sea Monotonously round the town. No forest murmurs, no bird sings Unceasingly in May; The wand’ring goose with raucous cry On autumn nights just passes by, On the shoreline waves the grass. Yet all my heart remains with you. O grey town by the sea; Youth’s magic ever and a day Rests smiling still on you, on you. O grey town by the sea. Source: Analysis and original text of the poem from A Book of German Lyrics, ed. Friedrich Bruns. Theodor Storm (*1817 Husum, † 1888) was a German writer. With his poetry and prose he is considered to be one of the most important authors of German Literary Realism. Storm was also known for his novellas, but foremost felt himself to be a lyric poet and regarded the poems as the source of his tales.