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Costly Rescue Cruiser Capable of Carrying 600 People

01 May 2003

Germany's latest, and biggest, sea rescue cruiser, SK29, due into service later this Summer, will remain a one-off addition for now to the fleet of the sea rescue service DGzRS, simply because she has been expensive to build.
SK29, Germanys biggest sea rescue cruiser, during deck mounting at Fassmer.
SK29, Germanys biggest sea rescue cruiser, during deck mounting at Fassmer.

Raising the 14-15m cost of building SK29 (not yet officially named) at Fassmer Werft has been difficult for the DZzRS, which relies on voluntary donations, like Britain's RNLI life-boat service. Spokesman Ralf Krogmann admitted the body 'first has to recover from the effort of raising her construction cost' before it can consider ordering a second boat. Some 330,000 individuals contributed to SK29.

The superlative 46m long, 10.25m wide cruiser, whose aluminium hull was built at Aluship in Poland, draws 2.8m and will have a top speed of 25 knots. Range at top speed is 920 sea miles, 2120 at 15 knots.

She guzzles 1700 litres of fuel an hour when operating at top capacity.

SK29 will be driven by a propulsion plant with a total 6800kW output using specially developed Reintjes gearing. The central engine is an MTU diesel Type 16V 4000 M90 of 2720kW driving a fixed propeller and the two side engines are MTU diesels Type 12V 4000 M90, each of 2040kW driving fixed propellers. SK29 will also have three rudders and two bow thruster plants each of 105kW, and a 9.41m long, 18 knot tender.

She will also boast considerably tow capability.

SK29 can carry up to 600 people below decks. Krogmann said that was because of increased passenger and tourist ship activity in the German North Sea and the Baltic.

Images for this article - click to enlarge

SK29, Germanys biggest sea rescue cruiser, during deck mounting at Fassmer.

All images copyright © Mercator Media 2008

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