The occasional disgruntled TradeWinds reader may sometimes have wished they could cast pesky journalists adrift in a small boat on the high seas.
While this remains just a dream for now, a German media company is launching an 'editorial hub' vessel to travel up and down the River Spree in Berlin.
The Pioneer One, equipped with a Schottel propulsion system, has been built by the Lux-Werft shipyard in Niederkassel.
Berlin-based Media Pioneer will use it to house 30 journalists.
The ship is driven by a Pump Jet electric motor in the hull, Schottel said, leaving the reporters to work in peace and quiet.
"Since the Pump Jet is installed flush with the vessel's outer shell, there is no increase in ship resistance and the risk of collision with flotsam is reduced considerably," Schottel added.
The vessel is designed specifically for shallow waters and has a protective grid on the inlet to protect the system should the ship ground.
Podcasts possible
The 40-metre vessel can be used on other inland waterways and comes with 200 square metres of space, TV broadcasting facilities and a podcast studio.
The vessel will be based for now in the centre of Berlin’s government district.
Readers will also be allowed to visit the ship. Live broadcasts and events are planned for up to 100 participants.
Spay-based Schottel was founded in 1921 and has been developing and manufacturing azimuth propulsion and complete propulsion systems with power ratings of up to 30 MW for vessels of all sizes and types for 70 years.
