Captain Alwin Müller: Farewell tour on the Baltic Sea with Vineta!

Captain Alwin Müller: Farewell tour on the Baltic Sea with Vineta!

This next Sunday it will be romantic on the Baltic Sea, because Alwin Müller, the 83-year-old former operations manager of the shipping company Adler-Ships, controls his last island tour with the "Vineta" . For over 30 years, Müller shaped the action on Adler ships and knows the waters like his socket pocket. The tour that will take more than twelve hours promises not only breathtaking views, but also exciting information about the history and culture of Usedom.

The tour starts on Wednesday, June 25th, at the Heringsdorfer pier and leads to the Misdroy pier in Poland. This pier, which was built by Müller's former boss Sven Paulsen from his own resources, extends about 400 meters into the water. Müller started his Maritime Career in 1961 as a sailor and witnessed numerous changes in shipping.

a life for shipping

Already in 1994 Müller took on the role of the captain in Adler ships. At that time there was only one jetty on the Ahlbeck pier. Many passengers were enthusiastic about the Duty Free offers on board until Poland's accession to the EU dried this source of income in the 2000s. Despite his retirement in 2013, Müller remained committed and continued to head island tours that were always a complete success.

with up to 160 employees and a fleet from eight ships, Müller was responsible for coordinating the company. Security and waves were always of great importance for him. His last tour comprises a proud 170 kilometers and illuminates historical topics such as the St. Otto of Bamberg and the region's seafaring traditions.

shipping through time

Maritime industry is not only of enormous importance for Usedom, but for the entire global economy. Over 90 percent of the globally traded goods are transported by ship. In 2023, around 268 million tons of goods were promoted in Germany, which represents a decline compared to previous years, as Statista reports. The largest German shipping company is Hapag-Lloyd, who transported around 12 million standard containers in 2023 and was EBIT over 17 billion euros in the same year.

The challenges in the industry should not be underestimated. Complex routes and large diversions are part of the everyday life of the shipping companies, which also have to react to current developments in climate protection. International initiatives aim to make shipping up to 2050 climate -neutral. This switch to sustainable fuels, an elementary topic for the future of the industry, is delayed by high costs and low offer.

It is expected to be on Müller's last trip with over 200 guests, and remaining tickets are still available. A new chapter comes to an end for Alwin Müller, but his legacy in Usedom shipping remains. The islanders and guests don't forget this maritime pioneer so quickly.

For more information about the offers of Adler ships, a look at their group offers.