The Navy receives new fuel suppliers. The Navy's future "floating gas stations" will stand out clearly from their predecessors "Rhön" and "Spessart" (Class 704), both visually and in terms of performance. They comply with the current guidelines (IMO, EU), according to which tankers must have a double hull. They also meet NATO requirements that they be protected against NBC warfare agents. Its loading volume should be around 12,000 cubic meters of aviation and diesel fuel. Up to three parallel refuelings at sea should be possible. In addition, the ships offer the possibility of placing modular container units, for example for workshops or spare parts warehouses, it is said.
The Bundeswehr has commissioned the Bremen-based Friedrich Lürssen shipyard to build two new fuel transporters for the German Navy. The Lürssen shipyard wants to build the new units, class designation 707, together with the Meyer shipyard. The Rostock Neptun shipyard will carry the lion's share of the program.
According to Tim Wagner, Managing Director of Fr. Lürssen Werft GmbH & Co. KG, the new Class 707 fuel suppliers will be equipped with a ballast water treatment system and modern exhaust aftertreatment to reduce emissions in accordance with IMO Tier III and thus comply with current environmental standards.
Gegenüber den ursprünglichen formulierten militärischen Forderungen wurden die Parameter an zwei Positionen wesentlich verändert. Aus den ehemals geforderten 20 Knoten Geschwindigkeit sind nun maximal 18 Knoten geworden. Der Tiefgang vergrößert sich auf 9,5 Meter. Dies ermöglichte eine Orientierung an gängigeren Entwürfen.
The Navy now has to deal with the stationing of the ships again. The military requirement previously stipulated that the fuel transporters remain at a draft of eight meters in order to avoid a deepening of the harbor at the Wilhelmshaven naval base.
On June 23, 2021, the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag made 914 million euros available for the two fuel suppliers. Comparable units have a unit cost of around 140 million euros - according to the Norwegian "Maud" - or around 210 million euros - according to the Royal Navy's "Tide" class.
Hans Uwe Mergener
Related topics
Start of construction of the K130 corvette Augsburg Gorch Fock: Seafaring is necessary! OPV for Australia Corvette construction started – start of combustion at the Lürssen site in Bremen Corvette K130: steel cut for construction number nine - program is more expensive Lürssen combines military shipbuilding in a new company Corvette construction started – trend reversal Material arrived at the Navy Steel cutting for Bulgarian patrol ships Bulgaria opts for German design of its patrol boats