In 1908 a ground breaking yacht, christened Germania, was built with the help of the German company Krupp Iron Works. Krupp Iron Works produced a chrome-nickel steel for the new hull of the Germania yacht, later known as The Half Moon. This possibly the first time a form of Stainless Steel was used in an ocean going vessel.
During a visit to England in 1914, the yacht was seized as a 'war prize.' After changing owners several times and surviving a particularly violent storm off Virginia, the yacht became a floating restaurant and dance hall off Miami.
The Half Moon, also known as the Germania and Exen, sank in 1930 near Miami, Florida. The wreck is located outside Bear Cut, which separates Virginia Key from Key Biscayne, off the east coast of Florida. In 2000, the wreck became the seventh Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve, and in 2001, it was added to the US National Register of Historic Places.
It's uncertain whether the steel contains the minimum 10.5% chromium content. From 1912 to 1914, Krupp employees Eduard Maurer and Benno Strauss worked on developing austenitic steels with less than 1% carbon, less than 20% nickel, and 15-40% chromium.
We've never built a stainless steel yacht at DSM but we could fit out a yacht with the perfect stainless steel galley! . Did you know you can tell the difference between a male and a female ant by dropping it in the sea? If it sinks - girl ant. If it floats - boy ant!!
Image: 1917 Krupp Iron Works. This image is from the George Grantham Bain collection at the Library of Congress. According to the library, there are no known copyright restrictions on the use of this work.