With the "Rügen", German customs has put its most modern and largest operational vessel into service. The ship monitors maritime traffic in the Baltic Sea and on the border with Poland. Thanks to its LNG propulsion system, it significantly reduces emissions and is designed for long-term patrol operations.
Customs vessel "Rügen": State-of-the-art technology for customs operations
According to the main customs office in Stralsund, the "Rügen" is primarily used to monitor the cross-border movement of goods and to comply with customs regulations in the sea area around the island of Rügen, the German continental shelf in the Baltic Sea up to the exclusive economic zone and on the border with Poland. Its home port is Lubmin. The new vessel replaces the 30-year-old customs boat of the same name.
Mission ship "Rügen". Photo: Stralsund Main Customs Office
Technical data of the "Rügen":
- Length: 67.20 metres
- Width: 12.70 metres
- Draught: 2.85 metres
- Speed: 23.2 knots
- Crew: 14 customs officers
- Propulsion: Four LNG engines with 1,492 kW output each
With a length of 67.20 metres, the "Rügen" is the largest ship in the customs fleet. A total of around 400 customs officers are deployed on 31 surface vessels of the General Customs Directorate - on the North Sea and Baltic Sea, in harbours and on Lake Constance. The fleet also includes two twin-hulled SWATH vessels.
Stationary 16V4000 gas engine from MTU. Graphic: Rolls-Royce Power Systems
Efficient LNG drive from mtu/Rolls-Royce
The "Rügen" was built at the Fassmer shipyard in Berne (Lower Saxony). Four 16-cylinder mtu Series 16V4000 M55RN gas engines power the vessel together with two controllable pitch propellers. The low-emission LNG propulsion system fulfils current climate protection requirements. Compared to conventional diesel propulsion systems, it produces no sulphur dioxide, significantly less nitrogen oxide and 95 per cent less particulate matter. CO2 emissions are reduced by up to 20 per cent. Two additional LNG-fuelled mtu gensets provide the on-board power supply. The "Rügen" can be operated gas-electrically, gas-mechanically or in booster mode at up to 23 knots.
More customs vessels with LNG propulsion
In addition to the "Rügen", three further 55 metre-long customs ships are being built at the Peene shipyard in Wolgast. These ships will also be fitted with powerful mtu Series 4000 gas engines, which will enable them to reach speeds of around 26 knots.
Tasks of German customs at sea
Customs performs key tasks to protect the economy, society and the environment. These include
- Control of the cross-border movement of goods
- Combating smuggling, e.g. arms and drug smuggling
- Collection of import duties
- Border surveillance at the EU's external borders
- Environmental protection at sea
- Assistance in maritime emergencies
The operational area covers approximately 3,660 kilometres of German coastline, 15,055 square kilometres of territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone of 48,050 square kilometres and Lake Constance.
Source: GZD press release, hum, ajs
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