Abel Tasman

The two-masted schooner was built in 1913 at the Pattje shipyard in Waterhuizen, the Netherlands, as a sailing cargo vessel named Hermann, intended for voyages on the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Initially, she sailed without an engine.

In later years, the vessel was sold to Denmark, where she was lengthened and renamed Laksen. Until the end of the 1980s, she served in coastal shipping as a transport vessel.

In 1989, she was converted into a comfortable charter sailing ship, with the original hull dimensions and traditional character restored. In 1998, she received her current name, Abel Tasman, in honour of the Dutch explorer who reached, among other places, Tasmania and New Zealand in the 17th century.

In 2024, she underwent a long-awaited refit. On board, she can comfortably accommodate 24 passengers and a crew of 4–6. During day cruises, she can carry up to 60 passengers.

The vessel belongs to a family of three sister ships — all of them have survived and are still sailing.