The 72.8m long and 12.5m wide boats replace two 25 year old fisheries vessels with the same names. They will see fishing control service mainly in the North Sea and Baltic but also in the North Atlantic. Kremer said they would also be integrated into Germany's joint Coast Guard and CCME (Central Command for Maritime Emergencies) structure.

Media reports said the two new GL classified boats were costing a combined EURO63m, a figure which Kremer said was 'about right'. They have a side height of 6.8m and a design draught of 5m.

Each boasts two 3,600 kW diesel-electric engines operating on two controllable pitch propellers with two drive motors also available as an alternative, or as a means of increasing power.

No details of the equipment manufacturers were provided by the BLE but Kremer told MJ that a data sheet was being prepared. A drawing already released notes a sea trial speed of 19 knots and says the new boats will have crews of 19 and accommodation for 22.The newbuilding and repair yard Peene-Werft is a small ship specialist. It built two other fishery boats for the Government in 1993, a research ship in 1990, a wreck and measurement ship in 1994 and a pollution combat ship in 2004.

By Tom Todd