The family company's trainee team climbs the winner's podium in the BMDV, BDB and BDS video blog competition
Jakob Betz, one of the bargeman trainees at KölnTourist Personenschifffahrt, proudly presents the historic engine telegraph in the wheelhouse of the MS Stadt Köln and explains what it was used for. Later, he meets up with his fellow trainees Jenni Rittel and Cedric Adam, KölnTourist instructor Christian Hentschel and cameraman Tobias Nahrendorf in the engine room of the former council ship to study the technology, machines and engines, which are still in their original condition. This is just one scene from the five-part video blog with which the KölnTourist trainees were allowed to document part of their everyday work.
The result: the team won second place in the competition.
On February 8, 2024, the winners were presented with their awards at a ceremony on the Schulschiff Rhein. The KölnTourist trainee team not only received the award, but also prize money of 2,000 euros. The certificate was presented by Renate Bartelt-Lehrfeld, Head of Division WS 21 at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), which initiated the video blog and launched it together with the inland waterway associations BDB and BDS.
Insight into the diverse professional world of inland navigation
Angelika Schmitz, Managing Director of KölnTourist, is delighted: "I am so proud of my young colleagues. With their videos, they have given a wonderful little insight into the diversity of the profession of bargeman and we hope that this will encourage more young people to embark on a career on the Rhine."
The video blog project was led by Tobias Nahrendorf, who coordinated the video recordings with the trainees, shot them and edited them into atmospheric short films. He successfully completed his training as an event manager at KölnTourist in 2023 and is now working in the team as a social media manager. "A few hours of work went into each of the five videos, which are only a few minutes long, but it was a lot of fun," reveals Tobias Nahrendorf. "Jenni, Jakob and Cedric were always full of enthusiasm, whether it was documenting everyday tasks, taking a tour on the dinghy or showing their support for the restoration of the MS Stadt Köln. We are delighted with the ranking." A second edition of the competition is planned for 2024, and the KölnTourist trainees will be taking part again.
The traditional craft of an inland waterway boatman involves three years of training. It is also possible to train directly as an inland waterway captain in three and a half years. Both training paths take place in the dual system. The apprentices learn the practical part of the profession on the ships of their training companies. During the annual three-month block course at the Schiffer-Berufskolleg Rhein vocational college in Duisburg-Homberg, subject-related theoretical and practical lessons take place. During this time, the prospective bargemen and bargewomen are accommodated on the training ship "Rhein" in the Homberg city harbor. Once they have passed their final examination, they become a permanent and important part of the inland navigation crew.
KölnTourist offers boat trips and boat charters at the most important hubs on the Rhine in the Cologne/Bonn area, an unforgettable and exclusive variety of experiences for a real change of perspective, plenty of relaxation and lots of good humor on one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe. A personal and individual service, delicious food from selected partners and a very good price/performance ratio round off the offer.
KölnTourist is a privately run shipping company with decades of tradition and shipping expertise. The fleet is technically state-of-the-art, because the safety of the passengers is always the focus. The interior of the fleet is always well maintained. With a view to the environment and future generations, the company embarked on a journey towards greater sustainability in passenger shipping some time ago. KölnTourist sees itself as a true friend and partner to its guests and is open to the world. The employees are authentic and love what they do - with regard to their fleet, their offers, their guests and the team.
Photo (from left to right):
Renate Bartelt-Lehrfeld (Head of WS 21 at the BMDV), Jakob Betz, Tobias Nahrendorf, Jenni Rittel, Cedric Adam (all KölnTourist), Gerit Fietze (Head of the training ship "Rhein")