The two saloon ships "Gräfin Cosel" and "August der Starke" of the Weiße Flotte Sachsen GmbH are to be modernized on the outside and inside. "We are upgrading both ships significantly, they will be more elegant and at the same time even more usable," said the managing director of the White Fleet, Stefan Bloch, on Monday in Dresden. Construction costs for the conversion are reportedly around 1.7 million euros per ship. The conversion will take place at the shipyard in Laubegast.
From the beginning of January, the motor ship "Countess Cosel" is to be converted first. Planned are about four months construction time. The ship is to be usable for the fleet parade on May 1, it said. The conversion of the motor ship "August der Starke" is planned a year later - in early 2025, it said. "The room layout will change, the technology will be adapted to the most modern requirements and the ambience will be significantly refreshed," it said.
The two comparatively young ships were launched in 1994. Both ships currently have room for 500 guests. In the future, 473 guests will be able to find space in the four redesigned interiors as well as on the renewed sun deck. The Dresden-based company is best known for operating and maintaining nine historic paddlewheel steamers.
