MY ''Albin Köbis'' was built in 1952 by Engelbrecht-Werft in Berlin-Köpenick on order by

Wilhelm Pieck Friedrich Wilhelm Reinhold Pieck (; 3 January 1876 – 7 September 1960) was a German communist politician who served as the Leadership of East Germany, chairman of the Socialist Unity Party from 1946 to 1950 and as the only president of the Ger ...

and served as the

presidential yacht Presidential yacht may refer to a vessel of a country's navy that would be specially used by the country's president. It is common for a vessel to be designated as the presidential yacht during a fleet review. Some countries (below) have vessels ...

of the

German Democratic Republic East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

(GDR) until 1971 when it was replaced by MY Ostseeland. It was named in honour of Albin Köbis, a German sailor and revolutionary during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. When

Fidel Castro Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban politician and revolutionary who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and President of Cuba, president ...

visited the GDR, MY ''Albin Köbis'' apparently struck a bridge during a cruise on the lakes of East-Berlin. After reunification the yacht briefly served with the

Wasserschutzpolizei The (, WSP - literally translated "Water Protection Police" in German language, German) is the river police that patrols the waterways, lakes and harbours of Germany around the clock. The WSP are part of the (State Police). The Federal Po ...

renamed ''Freundschaft'' (Friendship). In 1995 the ship was sold for 180.000 D-Mark in an auction and renamed ''La Belle'' (for the

discotheque A nightclub or dance club is a club that is open at night, usually for drinking, dancing and other entertainment. Nightclubs often have a bar and discotheque (usually simply known as disco) with a dance floor, laser lighting displays, and ...

bombed by Libyans in 1986). In 2009, the ship was acquired by a private person and restored after having sunk in the meantime.

Other vessels named ''Albin Köbis''

* '' A. Köbis'' (1974 yacht), the successor vessel to MY ''Albin Köbis'' * sailing vessel

References

1952 ships Royal and presidential yachts Ships built in Berlin Ships built in East Germany Ships of the Volksmarine {{ship-stub