POLLUTION CONTROL

German pollution control fleet reaches 19

8 years ago

The latest of nineteen small multi-purpose trimarans to combat German coastal oil and other pollution hazards has been handed over reports Tom Todd.

Another boat for pollution protection in north Germany

The 5.5m long and 2.2m wide boats come complete with trailers and draw just 25cms. They are designed to tackle oil spills and accidents involving hazardous substances on the North Sea and Baltic coasts of Germany’s northernmost state, Schleswig-Holstein, as well as on the Elbe estuary to the south and the Kiel Canal which flows across the state.

The latest boat has gone to the volunteer fire service in Glücksburg on the north Baltic coast. It joins 18 similar boats with 16 volunteer fire services and three civil technical relief agencies in the state. Together with the LKN.SH – the Schleswig-Holstein agency responsible for coastal defence, national parks and marine protection – the capable new boats make up the backbone of a regional oil pollution combat force.

They have been introduced gradually under a programme begun in 2006 to replace older vessels – some of which dated back 20 years and were described as no longer safe or suitable for the job. Of the now 19 boats currently in service, 14 were built by the firm of Hans Barro in Kellmünz, three at Alufan in Potsdam and two at the Josef Reich company in Petersaurach. The acquisition has to date cost the state government €1.1 million.

The boats boast five m2 of usable space and have a control stand and a towing attachment. They are powered by Honda BF90 LRTU 100hp outboards and equipped with radio, chart plotter and compass as well as LED lighting.

LKN spokesman Karl-August Lorenzen said the boats are kept on their trailers and can be moved quickly to wherever they are needed. “Stable on water, they can operate in coastal waters even in Force 8 winds and two metre high waves”, added Lorenzen – an oil pollution expert who was responsible for bringing the boats into service.

According to the LKN.SH more than 150,000 ships and many leisure craft use the state’s busy North Sea and Baltic coastal sea lanes as well as the Elbe River to and from Hamburg and the Kiel Canal every year and there are more than 100 accidents or ship losses.