Třinec, the last Czech sea vessel, to be scrapped, but parts will return home
Half a century ago, it was the pride of Czechoslovakia’s maritime fleet. Now, the cargo ship Třinec, the last surviving Czechoslovak ocean vessel, is set to be scrapped. However, parts of the ship will hopefully be brought back to its homeland.
Despite being landlocked, Czechoslovakia once had a surprisingly significant maritime presence. Since the interwar period, ships under the Czechoslovak flag sailed the world’s oceans. In 1959, the Czechoslovak Ocean Shipping Company (Československá námořní plavba) was founded, operating 44 vessels and employing 3,500 sailors at its peak. This made Czechoslovakia the second-largest maritime power among landlocked nations, after Switzerland.
The last remaining ship of this once-thriving fleet is Třinec, built in the Polish shipyards of Szczecin half a century ago. Measuring 199 meters in length and 24.5 meters in width, the vessel was an advanced cargo ship for its time. Štefan Havlík served as its captain for 14 months and remembers his time at the helm fondly:
"That was a long time ago, thirty years ago. But I have excellent memories, and I had some really great experiences. It was an outstanding ship with many technological advances for its time. She could be controlled from the bridge, and her propellers could be managed automatically, without going through the machinists."
At the height of its service, Třinec proudly bore the Moravian-Silesian eagle on its prow, transporting iron ore, grain, coal, and other raw materials across the seas. Captain Havlík highlights its efficiency:
"The Czechoslovak shipping company was unique in that it always kept up with technical developments. It was exceptionally up to date with cutting-edge technologies. Třinec was an excellent vessel for transporting coal and other bulk materials. It may seem surprising, but we could load tons of material overnight. As for unloading, that depended on the terminal we docked at."
By 1998, the Czechoslovak shipping company had ceased operations, and its entire fleet was sold off. Třinec was acquired by a Dutch shipping company and moored in Rotterdam, where it served as a floating transhipment station. But, with a new land-based storage facility in place, the Dutch owners have decided to scrap the ship.
Enthusiasts from the Maritime Museum in Veletov, a small village in Central Bohemia, are determined to preserve its legacy by salvaging as much of the ship as possible. Remarkably, much of its interior remains intact—including furnished cabins, crockery, working overalls, and old newspapers. They also hope to recover key structural parts, such as the funnel, bow, and captain’s bridge.
The industrial town of Třinec, which contributed materials for the ship’s construction, also hopes to reclaim a piece of its namesake—particularly its anchor. If funding allows, the first shipment of salvaged artefacts could arrive in the summer of 2025.
With no direct access to the sea, Czechoslovakia has maintained port areas in Hamburg since 1929 under the Treaty of Versailles, secured through a 99-year emphyteutic lease. This German port city once served as the base for both Czechoslovak and later Czech fleets.
After seven years of negotiations, the Czech Ministry of Transport confirmed in early December that the port areas of Saalhafen and Moldauhafen will soon be exchanged for the slightly larger Kuhwerder port.
For years, the Czech Republic struggled with how to utilize these deteriorating and largely unused facilities. However, the need to secure river transport for the Dukovany nuclear power plant—along with growing concerns over energy security following the war in Ukraine—has accelerated plans to retain and develop this strategic maritime access.
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