Event ship MS RheinVision refurbished
KD invests heavily in the future
New look, new design, new name: the event ship MS RheinVision (formerly MS Loreley) has been extensively and extensively renovated and modernized in recent months. The saloon ship is designed for sophisticated events on the Rhine. It impresses with its elegant design and high-quality furnishings.
The refurbishment of MS Loreley began in December 2023. The ship, which was built in 1996, was first gutted in the east basin of the Cologne shipyard (KSD) in Mülheim harbor (Rhine kilometer 691.5). In January, work began on the interior and exterior, during which hardly any areas were spared. MS RheinVision received completely new ceilings, floors, walls, windows and door systems. The seating was also replaced and the sound and lighting system brought up to the latest technical standards. The interior is in shades of gray and créme and has an aesthetic and modern look. The sanitary facilities, including the barrier-free toilet, have been renewed. The same applies to the elevator control system from the main deck to the open deck. Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows and a new stylish bar create a light-flooded ambience in the stern area of the ship. There is also a new bar area with a barbecue station on the sun deck. Finally, the ship was given a new exterior paint job and the new “RheinVision” name lettering.
Visible and invisible changes
“With its new interior and exterior design, the refurbished MS RheinVision blends harmoniously into KD’s existing event fleet. Thanks to its modern, flexible and comfortable equipment, the ship offers ideal conditions for exclusive celebrations and events, from cocktail parties and standing receptions to summer parties or product presentations,” says Markus Schwartz, Managing Director of KD Europe and responsible for the Nautical & Technology divisions. Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt has invested around 1.3 million euros in the redesign of the event ship.
In addition to the visible changes, the air conditioning in the passenger and staff areas has also been modified and improved. MS RheinVision also has a new sprinkler system. Around 45 craftsmen and technicians worked hand in hand on the ship. In addition to KD’s own staff, employees from several external companies were also deployed.
Captain paints the ship’s hull
Shipmaster Danilo Schulz was on board from the very beginning. What does a captain do when the ship is not sailing and is being taken apart in the shipyard instead? “When all the stuff was ripped out and dismantled at the end of the year, it was a strange feeling. I thought: what are they going to do with my ship?” Danilo Schulz has been the captain on board the ship since 2015. The 46-year-old has a lot in common with the old MS Loreley. As a ship’s boy, he once helped to ensure that everything ran smoothly on board. Schulz joined the Köln-Düsseldorfer even earlier. In 1994, the Loreley had not even been built yet. Over the past few weeks, he has given the new MS RheinVision plenty of cuddles – the captain helped paint the outside of the ship’s hull.