Firing start for the floating petrol stations

The navy is to receive new fuel supply units On 7 July 2021, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) awarded the contract for the design planning, construction and turnkey delivery of two naval fuel supply vessels to Lürssen Werft GmbH (now NVL B.V. & Co. KG). Today, 29 June 2023, the machines for the construction of the first of two new naval fuel supply vessels were symbolically started up in Papenburg.

Under the leadership of NVL, the successors to the "Rhön" and "Spessart" are being built in cooperation with Meyer Werft, Papenburg. According to the press release, the platforms will be "built, commissioned and trialled [...] at the Neptun shipyard in Rostock, which belongs to the Meyer Group. As the general contractor, NVL is responsible for project management, the marine-specific parts of the platform and deployment system as well as extensive services to ensure that the ships are ready for operation in the Bundeswehr's logistics system. .... The launch is planned from 2025."

Class 707 fuel supplier concept graphic
Image rights: NVL Group

The future "floating refuelling stations" of the navy, which will have the class designation 707, differ significantly from their predecessors "Rhön" and "Spessart" (class 704) both visually and in terms of performance. In accordance with the applicable guidelines (IMO, EU), they will have a double hull. Furthermore, according to earlier information from NVL, they also meet current environmental standards with a ballast water treatment system and modern exhaust gas aftertreatment to reduce emissions in accordance with IMO Tier III. They also fulfil the NATO requirement for NBC suitability. Up to three parallel refuelling operations should be possible. In addition, it is possible to place modular container units, for example workshops or spare parts storage.

According to earlier information, the two naval fuel supply vessels "Rhön" and "Spessart" will reach the end of their service life in 2023 ("Spessart") and 2024 ("Rhön") respectively after more than 40 years of operation. There may be a capability gap here. However, the planned intake of the new fuel supply units is already scheduled for March 2025 and March 2026.

In his target vision published in March 2023, the naval inspector assumes three fuel suppliers. No decisions have been made yet.