The Ship
1 The MS STUBNITZ
11 The structure
12 The opérations
13 Added value
131 a modular facility
132 Twenty years of expertise in managing port events.
14 Quick visit of the ship: For all details about the ship: www.stubnitz.com
1 THE MS STUBNITZ
Since 1992, the Motorschiff Stubnitz has sailed in the Baltic as a mobile research platform documenting contemporary cultures.
Overview of the structure (11), the operations (12) and some components of added value (13):
1.1 The structure :
Built in 1964 in Stralsund for the East German fishing flotilla , MS STUBNITZ typifies the cultural heritage of Rostock and Mecklemburg-Vorpommern’s as an example of ships of her type that are still active.
It was sold for a symbolic sum to a group of European artists in 1991. This 90m-long ship has been transformed architecturally, changing her from factory ship to an independent cultural centre comprising:
.4 show halls able to accommodate 700 guests
.30 cabins for members, shipmates and artists
.One lab (6 stations) for post-production audio/video
.Various workshops for graphic design, photography, print processes
.Various workshops dedicated to metal and electronic work
1.2 The operations:
Since 1994, MS STUBNITZ has worked to create an independent cultural scene in the Baltic Sea. Around fifteen ports have been visited and over 430,000 spectators have attended around 1500 events on board.
Ports visited (some more than once) : Saint Petersburg; Malmö; Hamburg; Stockholm; Lübeck; Rotterdam; Brugge; Amsterdam; Szczecin; Riga; Klaipeda; Copenhagen; Newcastle; Dunkerk; Nykøbing/Falster ; Aalborg…
The average minimum stop-over time is four to six weeks, which creates the opportunity to organize a comprehensive programme and to give the public time to take ownership of the venue.
The organization and the creation of a program for each festival are the result of a partnership between MS STUBNITZ and local groups: MS STUBNITZ’s aim is essentially to establish a unique musical scene unique in each port and not to import a programme.
Since 1994, more than 8000 hours of concert and performance have been recorded; they constitute a unique archive of North European avant-garde artists.
13 Added value:
Several attempts had been made in the past by other cultural operators to set up this kind of project in the Mediterranean Sea.
Most of those projects have failed, due to a lack of awareness of specific issues key to the success of such an operation, for example: Administrative issues concerning access to harbours, non viable economic models etc
However, the MS STUBNITZ offers a modular venue perfectly suitable for this operation (131) as well as a 20 years expertise in « Port event management » (132)
131 An ideally sized and modular facility:
MS STUBNITZ is able to welcome 700 guests oboard, using 4 platforms: 3 event rooms and an open deck, that are all equipped with a bar.
These platform spaces can all be used flexibly, so that more than one event can occur at the same time on-board, easily accommodating to changes and the needs of different users.
132 Twenty years of expertise in managing port events.
Neither a freight carrier, nor a passenger ship, the MS STUBNITZ is a vessel category in itself. One complicating factor is that in each port, consideration needs to be given to how the audience will access the ship.
As a consequence of this status: the MS STUBNITZ does not fall under the jurisdiction of any law or administration and yet, ironically, a lot of laws or administrative procedures can be used, if so desired by authorities to govern how the ship functions.
The STUBNITZ has experience of 20 years in a dozen different countries in dealing with these issues.
It is also fully equipped with the relevant authorizations and licences in terms of safety and security..
