At just 29 years old, he already owns his own ship. What sounds like a fairy tale is the true story of Lenard Schultz, a young private investor who is carrying on his family’s shipping tradition in an impressive way. It is a story about dreams, courage, and having the right partners at the right time. At its center is a ship that was once a prophecy and is now the MS Merkur.
But let’s start at the beginning: Lenard Schultz comes from a family of boatmen. His passion for inland shipping was instilled in him from birth. As a teenager, he once stood in front of a particular ship and said a sentence that would take on special meaning years later: “When I grow up, that will be my ship.”
Many years passed. In 2020, Lenard obtained his skipper’s license. And as fate would have it, that very ship from his youth suddenly reappeared—listed for sale on a broker’s website. The idea of turning his childhood dream into reality was born, and it never let go of him.
But it soon became clear that buying a ship is not a spontaneous decision—it is a major entrepreneurial undertaking. To put this dream on a solid foundation, Lenard sought professional support from DTG – Deutsche Transport-Genossenschaft Binnenschifffahrt eG (German Transport Cooperative for Inland Shipping).
Together with Roberto Spranzi, Andreas Grzib, and Nico Szepanski from DTG, the idea was gradually transformed into a concrete plan. A business plan was developed, financing options were carefully considered, and the entire project was presented to the supervisory board. From the very beginning, one thing was clear: a venture like this cannot be accomplished alone. By the autumn of 2025, discussions regarding the purchase had become serious.
Before the contracts could be signed, however, a crucial step remained: inspecting the vessel, which at the time was still called MS Fatal and was located at a shipyard near Paris. In early December 2025, Lenard Schultz and Nico Szepanski traveled to France for the so-called bottom inspection (hull inspection).
For this, the ship is lifted out of the water so that a certified marine surveyor—in this case, Thomas Speermann—can inspect the entire hull below the waterline. The result was a pleasant surprise: the vessel was in excellent condition and had been lovingly maintained by its French owner family. The way was now clear for the contract negotiations.
On January 8, the purchase was officially completed, and DTG initially became the legal owner of the vessel. However, one major challenge still remained: how could the ship be brought from France to Germany?
The MS Fatal was too large for the inland waterway route. The solution was a transfer voyage via the English Channel. A sea journey for an inland vessel—a true adventure. The route led from Compiègne via Rouen and Le Havre, across the English Channel to Vlissingen and Antwerp.
The ship had to be specially prepared for the ocean passage. The windows were secured with wooden panels, all openings were sealed watertight, and additional insurance coverage was arranged. Then came the waiting, as the insurer would only approve the crossing under optimal weather conditions. After one and a half days of waiting, the green light was finally given. An ocean-going tugboat took the MS Fatal in tow, and the journey began.
The transfer voyage started on Wednesday at 3:00 PM. By the following morning, the convoy had safely reached Vlissingen in the Netherlands. From there, the vessel continued to Antwerp without the tugboat, where Lenard’s first mate had already come aboard.
Before the vessel reached its final destination of Duisburg, something special happened: it took on its first cargo—coal from Liège to Offenbach. It was a significant milestone, because from that moment on, it was no longer just a purchased ship, but a working ship.
On January 28, the vessel finally arrived in Duisburg. It was an emotional moment for Lenard Schultz, marking the end of a seven-month journey filled with planning, inspections, and important decisions. With the final appointment at the notary, ownership of the ship was officially transferred from DTG to Lenard.
The MS Fatal became the MS Merkur. And an old dream became reality. A 29-year-old private shipowner who, with courage, determination, and the right people by his side, continues his family’s tradition. Sometimes dreams simply require a few years of patience—and a strong community on board.
