Christening of the new "ELBE"
The new pilot station ship 'ELBE' was christened on the 11th March 2010 at a formal ceremony. This ship is the largest of its kind built by Abeking & Rasmussen and was christened by Susanne Ramsauer, wife of the Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Development. The ceremony was attended by numerous representatives from national and local government, different pilot organisations, industry and the shipyard itself.
This 60.40 m long and 24.60 m wide vessel is the first of two similar vessels for German pilots. The new buildings are vessels to be used as pilot station ships in the German Bight. After a successful Europeanwide tender in July 2006, Abeking & Rasmussen was awarded the contract to construct and supply both fully operational vessels for the Waterways and Shipping Directorates North (Kiel) and Northwest (Aurich) by the Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau, BAW) on 19th April 2007.
The newly commissioned vessels will replace their ageing 40-year-old predecessors (KOMMODORE RUSER, GOTTHILF HAGEN, KAPITÄN KÖNIG). The 10-year-old 50m SWATH@A&R pilot station ship "HANSE" (formerly known as "ELBE") is now available to pilots on the Elbe and Weser rivers in case of exigency. Accordingly, the fleet has been consistently modernised culminating in the construction of these ships. The fleet will then consist of the following vessels: the 60m SWATH Pilot Stationship "ELBE" and an identical vessel, the 50m SWATH Pilot Stationship HANSE and the SWATH Pilot Tender DÖSE, DUHNEN, WANGEROOG and BORKUM.
These are already the 9th and 10th ships of this type to be built and delivered. Most of them perform their duties in the North Sea for German and Dutch pilots. The Belgian pilots have also recently opted for this system and ordered three 25m tenders and a 60m station ship. In addition, a 25m SWATH tender to be used as a wind farm service vessel is about to be delivered.
Due to their exceptional navigational characteristics, the Latvian Navy has also chosen SWATH@A&R as patrol boats and placed an order in Lemwerder for two 25m vessels. The Estonian waterways authorities have also opted for a hydrographic research vessel with SWATH@A&R technology as part of the EU-funded "Improving navigational safety in Estonian waters" programme.
In the private sector, the unusual hull design has also kept its successful course. The 40m expedition yacht, "SILVER CLOUD", is currently on a trip around the world with its owner.
As a result, Abeking & Rasmussen may justifiably be described as the world's most successful shipyard for the construction of SWATH ships.
