The Duchess Anne docked at Dunkerque

Restoring The Duchess Anne

Standing proudly at the port of Dunkerque, the Duchess Anne is a remarkable piece of maritime heritage. Originally built in 1901 at the Joh. C. Tecklenborg shipyard in Germany, she was designed as a training vessel for the merchant navy. With her sleek steel hull and balanced proportions, she was a testament to early 20th-century naval engineering, offering both stability and living space for her crew.

An old black and white painting of the Duchess Anne

 

Following World War II, she was transferred to France as part of war reparations, but unlike many of her counterparts, she never sailed again. By the 1970s, her future was uncertain, and it was only through the dedication of passionate preservationists that she was saved from demolition. Today, she is a museum ship – an enduring symbol of France’s maritime history. Protected as a historic monument since 1982, she remains the largest square-rigged three-master preserved in France.

Docked at Dunkerque, the sky seems grey but the sun is also lighting the ship.

 

To ensure her continued preservation, the Duchess Anne is now undergoing an extensive redecking project, and Kreative Decks is proud to be leading this phase of her restoration. This marks a crucial step in maintaining her structural integrity while honouring her original craftsmanship.