World of Ships – May 2018

34 I World of Ships I Paddle Steamers

name change was deemed necessary. So the

steamer assumed that of sister Vysehrad,

which had been withdrawn in 1988. The new

Vysehrad’s big refit saw a wheelhouse installed,

with the upper deck opened up. In addition

to Prague promenade cruises and Slapy Dam

sailings, PPS has offered a number of longer

sailings north to the Rivers Vltava and Elbe.

VYSEHRAD (I)

OWNER PPS-EDV

BUILT 1938 by Aussiger Schiffswerft, Usti

MACHINERY Compound diagonal engine of 220HP from

CKD, Prague, converted to oil fuel 1980

REBUILT 1959 and 1984-84

LENGTH 62m x 5.5m (hull), 10.5m (over paddles)

PASSENGERS 885

The sistership of the former Devin, which has

now taken her name, entered service as Dr

Edvard Benes before being renamed Labe in

1939 and Wischerad three years later. It was

back to Dr Edvard Benes in 1945 before the

change to Vysehrad in 1959. Deck shelters

were added in 1959, conversion to oil fuel took

place in 1980 and a major refurbishment in

1983-84 saw full restaurant services provided

for the first time. The vessel was used almost

exclusively for sailings aimed at the tourist

market and organised from 1985 by Czech

national organisation Cedok.

Vysehrad was taken out of service after

the 1988 season for even more ambitious

alterations, but work, including new boilers and

accommodation upgrades, was halted in 1992

owing to financial problems. She was moored

in Prague as an exhibition in September 2011,

but has since lain in deteriorating condition,

with no further work taking place.

V LTAVA

OWNER PPS-EDV

BUILT 1940-41 by Werft Heinrich, Prague, completed at

Praga Yard, Prague

REBUILT 1960, 1991-92

DIMENSIONS 54m x 45.1m (hull), 9.1m (over paddles)

PASSENGERS 650

MACHINERY Compound diagonal by CKD, Prague, 150hp;

converted to oil fuel 1979, new boiler 1991-92

Planned as part of a series of six smaller

steamers, only Vltava and Labe were

completed. Vltava entered service in 1941 and

was renamed Moldau after Germany took

control, the original name being restored in

1945. Deck saloons were fitted in 1960, with an
      oil-fired boiler from 1979. A boiler explosion on
      1 May 1989 put the vessel out of service, Vltava
      returning in October 1991. The vessel visited
      Dresden in July 2011 to take part in a Parade
      of Steam with local White Fleet vessels.

ABOVE Upgrade work on the original Vysehrad stopped in 1992 and, since she was used in Prague to

house an exhibition in 2011, no further work has taken place.

Prague’s local trip paddler

The Prague local cruise scene includes two

contrasting paddle vessels introduced in recent times,

the steam-powered Sirius (above) appearing in 2010,

followed by the smaller ‘party boat’ Elbis (below right)

a couple of years later. Sirius was built in Prague to

the design of local motor vessel operator Miroslav

Kedrst, using the bow and stern sections of former

ferry Strehla. She has a two-cylinder simple diagonal

engine with chain drive, powered by a boiler burning

coal or wood. The inspiration for the Prague ‘party

boat’ Elbis, with lounge accommodation for 27

passengers and an outside deck for 25, came from

Australia, with the design based on the 19th century

Murray River paddler Marion.

Built in Prague from sections of a

former ferry, Sirius appeared in 2010.

The chain drive steam engine that powers Sirius. The Prague ‘Party Boat’ Ebis..

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