The Flipper is a German seaside resort ship that was built by the Mützelfeldtwerft in Cuxhaven for the Cassen Eils shipping company for the purpose of Heligoland traffic. The keel was laid on December 2, 1976, the launch on May 11, 1977. The ship was then completed in June; in October of the same year 1977 it was extended from the original 43.31 to 46.61 meters. This increased the passenger capacity from 444 to 500 people. A special structural feature of the ship is the shallow draft of 1.24 meters, which allows it to be used in shallow waters, such as in the Wadden Sea around Neuwerk , where the ship operates today.
The ship shares a special external feature with the ships Funny Girl , Fair Lady and Kloar Kimming (ex Adler Nordica , Pidder Lyng , ex Westerland ), which were also built by the Mützelfeldtwerft between 1970 and 1973, in the shape of a curved line that runs from the bow to the stern of the ship. This is intended to provide protection against splashing water when there are waves and gives the ship a visually harmonious overall appearance. A similar look was also found in the first pinball machine, also built by the Mützelfeldtwerft in 1967 .
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From 1977 to 1987 the pinball machine was used on various routes between the East Frisian Islands and Helgoland (including Norderney - Helgoland), as well as for excursions from Norderney to the other East Frisian islands and duty-free trips to Holland. In 1988 the ship then switched to the Cuxhaven - Neuwerk route, which it operates in the summer. In addition, excursions to the seal banks and the Kiel Canal are made with the Flipper from Cuxhaven .
