Permanent security tugboat supplied for River Elbe
A permanently present tugboat is in place to secure the section between Brunsbüttel and Hamburg’s federal state border for the first time.
The tugboat, FAIRPLAY-35, has been supplied by tender winner ARGE Küstenschutz, part of the Fairplay Towage Group.
In late 2021, a tender was drafted by the Elbe-North Sea Waterways and Shipping Office (WSA Elbe-Nordsee) for a permanently present tugboat to harbour in Stade-Bützfleth, be available 24/7 and able to take off on a mission within 15 minutes.
The FAIRPLAY-35 was stationed on the Elbe from April 1 with the Brunsbüttel-Elbe control centre holding mission control and right of instruction on behalf of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV).
ARGE Küstenschultz has also won another two tenders from the WSV to supply emergency tugboats for the North and Baltic Seas.
Nordic and Baltic operate on the basis of an emergency vessel concept that was implemented by the federal government in 2001.
It provides that multi-purpose vessels operated by the government are stationed in strategically selected locations along the German coast of the two seas so that a damaged ship can be reached within two hours.
An additional land-based towing assistance team of four is also available and can be winched aboard a damaged vessel from a helicopter in case of emergency.
