A life on the water
Robert Litmeyer is a skipper who is at home on Europe’s waterways. What is his life like on board, and how does he experience Germany?
Kim Berg,
03.03.2025 
Robert Litmeyer stands at the wheel with a cup of coffee and enjoys the early morning silence. His ship chugs at a leisurely pace along the canal while the scenery passes by through the window.
Litmeyer is the skipper of an inland transport vessel - the sixth generation of his family to pursue this profession. “I have spent my entire life on the water ,” says the captain. Three days after he was born, his mother took him with her on board a ship. Ever since, he has spent most of his time on the canals and rivers of Europe. Litmeyer spends around 320 days a year navigating his vessel. Together with his four crew members, he transports goods throughout Europe - from animal feed and wheat to rotor blades for wind turbines. The loading capacity of his ship is equivalent to that of 150 articulated lorries: 3,224 tonnes.
The freedom, the scenery and the varied nature of the work are what make this job unique.
Living and working on the water
Daily life on board is clearly structured: the day begins at 5.30 am with the first machine checks before the vessel casts off at 6 am. During the day, Litmeyer steers the ship along rivers and canals while his crew secure the load, carry out routine maintenance and help out as they pass through the numerous locks. There are hardly any rest breaks because the journey normally continues well into the evening. “We travel for 14 hours a day,” says Litmeyer. “When we are in port, we use the time to do some shopping, go and have a meal together or stroll through the towns we dock in.”
Although the work is tough and life on the ship is often lonely, he enjoys the special atmosphere on board: “The freedom, the scenery and the varied nature of the work are what make this job unique.”
Travelling through Europe
Litmeyer knows the waterways of Europe like the back of his hand. He normally sails down the Danube to Hungary or along the Rhine to Switzerland or up into the Netherlands. “Sometimes we even sail as far as the Black Sea,” he reports. He particularly appreciates the morning hours, when the sun is rising and the first light is reflected on the water’s surface.
His best moment? “When I discover new places I have never been before. This sensation of curiosity and freedom - that’s something really special.”
