Icelandic cutter type HRB 54

• Material: sheet metal
• 66.4 cm x 15 cm x 35 cm
• model by an unknown hand
• Length of the original cutter overall: 34.70 m, width: 7.20 m, height: 2.70 m

In 1793, Hans-Jürgen Lemm founds a family business: a boatyard that successfully builds ships. Franz Lemm's technical progress even earns him the title "Hofschiffbauer" ("shipbuilder to the court") in 1893. During the First World War in 1917, the family business is sold to the Carlo Z. Thomsen bank. During the inflation and global economic crisis, economic success is very unsettled – as is production, which now also includes high-voltage pylons for the Märkische Elektrizitätswerke. During the Second World War, the company is classified as important for the war, but is later expropriated by the Soviet occupying power. From 1945, the "Boizenburger Elbe-Werft" shipyard supplies ship products – first as reparations and later as paid exports to the Soviet Union.

At the end of 1964, the shipyard builds 18 Icelandic HRB 54 cutters for 10 Icelandic fishing companies, its first order for western countries. A crew of 15 men can stay at sea on the 253 BRT fishing cutter at a speed of 9.5 knots for about 11 days. At the customer's request, the cutters are equipped with Lister Blackstone type ERS 8 M diesel engines with 660 hp and a three-bladed controllable pitch propeller from LIAAN. Two of the Icelandic cutters make a name for themselves because they are involved in accidents: the BARDI (construction no. 109, the 406th ship after 1945) suffers a collision on the Lower Elbe, and the NATTFARI cutter (construction no. 2441) gets its bow stuck on the slipway while being launched. According to Icelandic superstition, the owners regard this accident as an omen of successful fishing – which is the case!