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Collision in Wilhelmshaven: Sea lock is threatened with demolition after serious damage!
Einsatzgruppenupplier Berlin collides with sea lock in Wilhelmshaven: severe damage and investigation into the future of the wheelhouse.
Collision in Wilhelmshaven: Sea lock is threatened with demolition after serious damage!
An unpleasant incident occurred in Wilhelmshaven on June 18, 2025, when the task force supplier “Berlin” rammed the stem of the sea lock while docking. Loud NDR In particular, the wheelhouse between the lock chambers was severely damaged, so that the resulting damage was assessed as a total loss. This could potentially result in the demolition of the entire wheelhouse as relevant waterways and shipping authorities are now closely examining the situation.
The collision led to the immediate shutdown of the lock, which was unable to operate for a day. Divers provided additional safety measures and searched the bottom, but fortunately no further damage was found to the lock, which is now operational again. The task force supplier itself seems to escape with a small dent, but still suffers from the consequences of the unplanned maneuvers.
A long road to operational readiness
It's hard to believe, but the "Berlin" had only recently returned from a year and a half of repairs in a shipyard in Kiel, and not without difficulties. Loud NWZonline Due to technical problems, including biological contamination in the cooling water system, the ship was unable to make the journey independently and had to be towed to Wilhelmshaven by two tugs. Special features of the current situation on board include construction site toilets and a non-functioning vacuum toilet system. The fresh water system and the galley were also not ready for use.
The Navy now has its hands full completing the remaining work quickly, while also facing difficulties due to hidden damage and material shortages. The next shipyard test trip is scheduled for November, but whether this date can actually be kept remains to be seen.
The Role of the Navy in the 21st Century
Viewed in a larger context, the importance of the navy for Germany is becoming more and more present. Naval inspector Axel Schimpf declared the 21st century to be the maritime century and formulated the “Marine 2025+ objective” in order to sharpen long-term strategic considerations. Loud Science and Peace It is crucial to protect Germany's security interests at sea, especially in view of the growing potential for conflict and the need to secure the energy infrastructure and unhindered global trade.
The Navy also plans to operate multinationally and also support land wars from sea. In this context, a well-equipped fleet is essential. The “Frankfurt am Main” is currently in use in the Indo-Pacific and the “Bonn” is undergoing repairs in Kiel, while the “Berlin” is still behind schedule. There is a lack of qualified personnel and shipyards, which further complicates repairs. New maintenance options are to be created in the Wilhelmshaven naval arsenal by the 2030s in order to remedy these problems to some extent in the future.
The latest developments in the navy show that things never stand still - both on the water and in the shipyards. Now it remains to be seen what solutions will be found to get the “Berlin” operational again as quickly as possible.