The ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT was built as a light vessel in 1906 by the German shipyard Werft AG Weser of Bremen and was initially named RESERVE SONDERBURG. Originally she was operated throughout the North and Baltic Seas until being retired in 1986. She was then converted into a three masted barque by German shipyard Motorwerke Bremerhaven and was re-launched in 1988 as the flagship of the German Sail Training Foundation.