Albin Köbis (yacht)

Albin Köbis in 2014.
History
Owner	Council of Ministers of the GDR (1952–1990) Berlin water police (1990–1995) private ownership (1995–current)
Ordered	1952
Builder	VEB Yachtwerft
Reclassified	1990, Freundschaft 1995, La Belle
General characteristics
Length	20m

MY Albin Köbis was built in 1952 by Engelbrecht-Werft in Berlin-Köpenick on order by Wilhelm Pieck and served as the presidential yacht of the German Democratic Republic (GDR)^[1] until 1971 when it was replaced by MY Ostseeland. It was named in honour of Albin Köbis, a German sailor and revolutionary during World War I.^[1][2]

When Fidel Castro visited the GDR, MY Albin Köbis apparently struck a bridge during a cruise on the lakes of East-Berlin. After reunification the yacht briefly served with the Wasserschutzpolizei renamed Freundschaft (Friendship).^[2] In 1995 the ship was sold for 180.000 D-Mark in an auction and renamed La Belle (for the discotheque bombed by Libyans in 1986).^[2] In 2009, the ship was acquired by a private person and restored after having sunk in the meantime.^[1]

Other vessels named Albin Köbis

• A. Köbis (1974 yacht), the successor vessel to MY Albin Köbis
• Albin Köbis (ship, 1948) [de] sailing vessel

References

1. "Berlin: Piecks Staats-Yacht wird Hausboot". Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). ISSN 1865-2263. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
2. "Staatsjacht der DDR schippert wieder - B.Z. – Die Stimme Berlins". www.bz-berlin.de (in German). 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2024-09-30.