To mark its 195th anniversary, ORF is broadcasting the documentary “Waterproof – on board the DDSG”. On Tuesday it was presented on board the MS Kaiserin Elisabeth.
Wien (OTS/LCG) – This year the waves of success are rising at the DDSG Blue Danube. At the beginning of the anniversary year, Austria’s largest and most traditional inland shipping company expanded its fleet by two ships in order to continue its success and provide around 400,000 people every year with moments of happiness on the ship. The ORF is now dedicating the event to the eventful and moving history of what was once the largest inland shipping company in the world Katharina Reigersberg and Judith Weissenböck produced documentary “Washed in all waters – on board the DDSG”. It will be broadcast on July 21, 2024 as part of the “Österreich-Bild am Sonntag” broadcast bar at 6:25 p.m. on ORF 2.
The DDSG Blue Danube managing directors took a first look at the ORF documentation on Tuesday evening Wolfgang Fischer and Wolfgang Hanreich At the exclusive pre-premiere on board the MS Kaiserin Elisabeth, among others, Federal Minister Karoline Edtstadler and city councilor for economic affairs Peter Hanke as well as numerous guests of honor.
“Rivers are the lifelines that connect people, nations, cultures and regions and keep our economy going. The DDSG Blue Danube plays an indispensable role by connecting European capitals and thus contributing to European integration. It also offers its guests the opportunity to experience the breathtaking beauty and diversity of Austria from a unique perspective. Warm congratulations to Wolfgang Fischer, Wolfgang Hanreich and her entire crew on this impressive anniversary”
says Karoline EdtstadlerFederal Minister for the EU and the Constitution.
“For the anniversary, the DDSG Blue Danube is aiming for a new record of 400,000 passengers with the expanded fleet. The successful growth shows that the DDSG Blue Danube is an integral part of the tourist offering in Vienna and Lower Austria. The Viennese and people from the entire region value the scheduled and themed trips as an attractive leisure offer that allows them to rediscover the Danube and their city.”
emphasizes City Councilor for Economic Affairs Peter Hanke.
“The peak travel season has got off to a very good start and Austrians’ desire to travel is at a record level. Tourism in Vienna continues to grow after 2023 was the second best year in the federal capital’s tourism history. For many international and local guests, a boat trip on the DDSG Blue Danube is a fixed point on their visit to Vienna. With the two new ships, capacity has been increased by around 30 percent, meaning the shipping company is perfectly positioned for future growth.”
explains VERKEHRSBUERO CEO Martin Winkler.
“The Danube and its shipping as a connecting element between countries, the metropolis of Vienna with a population of millions as the intersection of many cultures and the ORF regional studio in Vienna, which fulfills its mission of being an ‘ORF for everyone’ precisely in this tension – this report is in In the best sense, an Austria picture from Vienna! The ORF regional studio in Vienna, as the number one local media provider in the federal capital, is always close – and this time we were even on board, where we were able to look over the shoulder of the DDSG Blue Danube crew during their impressively diverse work.”
said ORF country director Edgar Weinzettl.
“ORF documentaries are in demand worldwide. The look at the 195-year history of the DDSG is fascinating for our entire crew and opens the entire historical treasure chest of the DDSG for the first time. Looking back at our rich history is inspiring and motivating to move full steam ahead into the future.”
says DDSG Blue Danube managing director Wolfgang Fischer.
“Since 1829, our ships have sailed 364 days a year to connect people. Working on the documentary ‘Washed in all waters – on board the DDSG’ was an exciting journey for us, on which we learned a lot about our roots. We are pleased to give the audience insights into our nautical work and to let them take a look behind the scenes of inland shipping.”
says DDSG Blue Danube managing director Wolfgang Hanreich.
“Awash in all waters – on board the DDSG”
The DDSG Blue Danube, founded 195 years ago as the first Danube steamship company, operates nine ships on the Danube, from Vienna to the Wachau and to Bratislava. Day trips on the water are popular and the ships are more than just another workplace for the crew members. Whether they are captains or sailors, they all work with great passion, whether they enable their guests to have a mini-vacation on the Danube or keep the ships in good condition in the shipyard in winter. In this film we experience them personally and find out what goes into working as an inland waterway boatman. In addition, the eventful history of the company DDSG Blue Danube is made clear through historical film footage.
The ORF team and the designers Katharina Reigersberg and Judith Weissenböck Among other things, they document the maintenance work in the Linz shipyard, visit the command bridge with fleet captain Johannes Kammerer, look over the shoulders of young employees at their daily work and were there at Vienna’s Daughters’ Day. The documentary also shows exclusive footage of the christening of the newest addition to the fleet with an actress Maria Happel and cathedral priest Toni Faber. The film team also went on the popular Austropop theme trip, traveled through the Wachau on board the DDSG Blue Danube and discovered culinary highlights in the floating restaurant.
“Awash in all waters – on board the DDSG” will be broadcast in the “Österreich-Bild am Sonntag” series on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at 6:25 p.m. on ORF 2.
Prominent premiere guests at the floating cinema
The DDSG Blue Danube managing directors welcomed the exclusive pre-premiere on board the MS Kaiserin Elisabeth Wolfgang Fischer and Wolfgang Hanreich among other things Michael Amerer (Hydro Power Association), Thomas Angermair (Dorda Lawyers), Peter Aufreiter (Vienna Technical Museum), Oliver W. Braun (Athenaeum Holding), Rainer Christ (Winzer), Beatrice Cox-Riesenfelder (Profile), Claus Fischer (Austria coin), Tillmann Fuchs (Vienna Airport), Sara Grasel (Industrial Association), Magdalena Hankus (Hankus 3sixty), Peter Hofbauer (Metropolis), Wolfgang Jansky (Today), Wolfgang Kaufmann (Vice Mayor Melk), Josef Koppensteiner (Member of the Lower Austrian State Parliament), Harald Herbs (ORF), Wolfgang Layr (People’s Bank), Herbert Lippert (Grammy Award Winner), Djeiran Malek-Hofmann (TRANSPORT OFFICE), Rainer Newald (Austrian-American Society), Franz Dead (United Theaters Vienna), Jacqueline Pfeiffer (Stove), Karin Rest (Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Wien Holding), Michael Rettenegger (Kurier), Vit was Russwurm (Moderator), Martina Salomon (Delivery man), Birgit Sarata (Vice Honorary Consul), Georg Semler (Rudolfinerhaus), Herwig Straka (E-Motion Group), Roman Tenschert (Jurist), Lisa Totzauer (ORF), Wolfgang Waldner (Secretary of State) Claudia Wiesner (entrepreneur), Jasmin Wolfram (Mozarthaus Vienna) and Marc Zimmermann (Popup Media).
DDSG Blue Danube is owned 50 percent each by Wien Holding and TRAFFIC BUEROS and is a state-certified training company and top Viennese training company as well as a brand awarded by Superbrands Austria. Further information on ddsg-blue-danube.at
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