The DGzRS said Woltera was the eleventh in a series of delta shaped vessels introduced since 1999. Among other things, her wide stern makes her easier to control and also well suited to hold course in strong following seas and to manoeuvre in rough seas, the rescue organisation said.

Drawing less than a metre, the ship is also ideal for shallow water coastal operation.

She was named after the mother of a German seaman whose ship was unable to assist the sailship Pamir when she sank in a hurricane in 1957 with the loss of scores of sailing cadets.

The seaman, recognising the value of sea rescue organisations, put up much of the money for the latest boat.

Woltera is powered by a 236 kW turbo-diesel developing 18 knots and will see service out of Kuhlingsborn with the 23.1m long rescue cruiser Theo Fischer and another small rescue boat.

The DGzRS has meanwhile revealed more details of its biggest ever rescue cruiser, ordered at Fassmer Werft for delivery in the second half of next year. It will be stationed in Heligoland and has been internally designated SK 29 until its naming.

The boat will be 46m long and 10.25m wide, draw 2.8m and displace about 400 tons, said the DGzRS. It will have an engine output of 6800 kW and its hull, which will hold an autonomous daughter boat of about 9m, will be built at Fassmer's partner company Aluship in Gdansk.

MJ Information No: 17157