Icebreaker “Kuna” – ship’s bell

About the sound

The sound of ship’s bell on the icebreaker “Kuna”. The recording was realized on board of the museum and training ship “Kuna” moored in the river port in Gorzów Wielkopolski (Poland).
The ship “Kuna” was constructed in 1884 in the Danziger Schiffswerft & Kesselschmiede Feliks Devrient & Co. shipyard in Gdańsk as steam powered icebreaker. Vessels of this type were intended for breaking the ice cover and enabled river navigation also during winter time. “Kuna” was in operation until 1965. Then its equipment was removed and, as an empty hull, it was intended for scrapping. In the 1970s the ship was transported to Gorzów Wielkopolski with the intention to be used as a mooring pontoon. In 1981 the ship drowned in the port basin and remained under water for the following 20 years.
In the year 2000 a group of enthusiasts started a 6-year project of the ship’s revitalization. The external form of the historical icebreaker “Kuna” has been preserved, its original elements include: ship’s hull, bow and stern maneuvering deck, anchor davit, bow and stern mooring bollards, fragments of propeller shaft and the propeller. Steam propulsion of the vessel was replaced by a combustion engine.
The recorded bell is part of the modern equipment of the ship and is used for striking so called glasses, i.e. sounds informing about the current hour of the watch on board. The icebreaker “Kuna” is now a river cruise vessel for recreation and training. It also takes part in historical ships events.

Sound recordist: Monika Widzicka
Photographer: Piotr Leszczyński