Reports have drawn attention to the excellent sea keeping characteristics of SWATH tenders in the German Bight and on the Elbe, albeit after initial teething troubles. The vessels have now logged more than 50,000 operating hours and performed more than 25,000 boardings or pilot transfers a year. However the Berlin Government, which favours a unified SWATH pilot system, now appears to have heeded some criticism of the new vessels by local pilots on the Ems and Weser/Jade, who favour a monohull pilot transfer system and say it is best suited to the conditions in their region. Berlin has now said it will accept a mix of SWATH ships, helicopters and conventional pilot transfer in future pilot operations on the Ems and Weser. Reports said a system involving 80% SWATH tender and helicopter transfer and 20% monohull vessel pilot transfer appeared likely.

When the first Dutch SWATH tender was delivered, the head of one German pilot group said the Weser/Jade area was a different kettle of fish to Holland and Elbe and that SWATH ships were not suitable and too costly.

The SWATH tenders displace 125 tons and are 14.26 m wide, draw 2.7 m and are driven by two MTU 12V 2000M70 diesels.