Past is Past for Honecker's Yacht
June 27, 2005
The 61-meter (200-foot) ship was bought by a Dubai businessman for somewhere between 700,000 and 1 million euros ($850,000 - $1.2 million), Germany's Bild am Sonntag weekly reported. Hamburg yacht broker Jan Bültmann said the buyer "wasn't the least bit interested" in the boat's colored past.
Dubbed by Honecker "Ostseeland," or Baltic Sea Country, the boat hosted prominent guests like Cuban leader Fidel Castro during its tour of duty as East Germany's state yacht. Originally fitted to clear mines, it was rebuilt for the Communist boss in 1971. But since he was prone to seasickness, Honecker seldom went on outings with his luxurious ship.
The yacht already changed hands once since the demise of the GDR, shedding its name on the way. Now "Aniara," as it's been dubbed, is currently anchored in Istanbul awaiting a fresh overhaul for its new owner.
There was no word as to whether the surveillance system installed in each of the ship's 16 cabins has been retained, nor whether the new owner has sturdier sea legs than his East German predecessor.