BSH to Deploy Two Advanced Multi-Purpose Vessels in North and Baltic Seas

The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has awarded the construction contract for two new multi-purpose vessels to the Spanish shipyard Astilleros Gondan. The new vessels, each 70 m long and 15 m wide, will be used to survey the seabed for nautical charts and identify underwater obstacles. They will also support security and defense authorities with accurate hydrographic data. The ships are designed for an operating life of 30 years and will replace the research vessels “Wega” and “Deneb,” which have been in service since 1990 and 1994, respectively. The new ‘Wega’ is scheduled for completion in 2029, followed a year later by the new “Deneb.”

“With the modernization of the fleet, we are ensuring constant operational readiness in the North Sea and Baltic Sea with one ship each, as well as the necessary special equipment and an experienced crew,” says BSH President Helge Heegewaldt. “In the event of accidents, we can quickly investigate underwater obstacles and initiate further measures. Our surveying and oceanographic data collection are also relevant to Germany's defense capabilities through the navy.”

The total cost of the new vessels, which will mainly use methanol as fuel, amounts to €270 million. In the long term, green methanol is expected to further improve the climate balance. Both ships will receive the Blue Angel environmental label in accordance with UZ-141 for ship design. They also meet the Silent R standard of the DNV classification society. According to the BSH, low-noise operation not only protects marine fauna but also improves acoustic measurements. A dynamic positioning system is designed to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability. This will enable safe diving operations and the operation of remote-controlled underwater vehicles. The ships are equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic sensors for surveying the seabed and the water column. For the first time, the BSH is also using autonomous survey vehicles. These are intended to increase the efficiency of hydrographic operations.

As before, the “Wega” will be stationed in Hamburg and the “Deneb” in Rostock.