Start of firing of the first fleet service boat

Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL) starts the production phase for the fleet service boats

The fleet service boats OKER, ALSTER and OSTE, which have been in service for more than 30 years, will be replaced by the new units and will be available to the German Navy from 2029.

Together with Annette Lehnigk-Emden, President of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), Flotilla Admiral Andreas Czerwinski, Head of the Marine Department of the BAAINBw, and Lürssen Managing Director Justus Reinke, Tim Wagner, CEO of NVL, today pressed the start button to start up the plasma cutting system for the symbolic first steel cut. The order was placed with NVL in 2021.

The construction of the technologically extremely complex new type will take place under strict safety conditions. According to Tim Wagner, the shipyard will "work together with other North German shipyard partners and leading German systems engineering companies" to build the 130 metre long Class 424 fleet service boats. Like their predecessors, the reconnaissance platforms will be used to gather information and are equipped with state-of-the-art sensor technology for this purpose. The ships will be operated by the German Navy, with the Bundeswehr's CIR command in charge of operational deployment.

Text and photos: NVL; hsc / Lemwerder, 21 November 2024