Start of firing for the Navy's new floating fuel stations

The Navy is to receive new fuel suppliers. On July 7, 2021, the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the German Armed Forces (BAAINBw) awarded the order for design planning, construction and ready-to-use delivery of two marine fuel suppliers to Fr. Lürssen Werft GmbH (today NVL BV & Co. KG). On June 29, 2023, the machines for the construction of the first of two new marine fuel suppliers were symbolically started in Papenburg.

Under the leadership of the NVL, the successors to the "Rhön" and "Spessart" are being manufactured in cooperation with the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg. According to the press release, the platforms are “built, put into operation and tested [...] at the Rostock Neptun shipyard, which belongs to the Meyer Group. As the general contractor, the NVL takes on the project management, the marine-specific parts of the platform and deployment system as well as extensive services for preparing the supply readiness, which ensure the operability of the ships in the logistics system of the Bundeswehr. …. The inflow is planned from 2025.”

The future "floating filling stations" of the Navy, which will have the class designation 707, stand out clearly from their predecessors "Rhön" and "Spessart" (class 704) both visually and in terms of performance. According to the current directives (IMO, EU), they will have a double hull. Furthermore, according to earlier information from NVL, they also comply with current environmental standards with a ballast water treatment system and modern exhaust aftertreatment to reduce emissions in accordance with IMO Tier III. They also meet the NATO requirements for NBC suitability. Up to three parallel refueling should be possible. In addition, there is the possibility of placing modularly combinable container units, for example workshops or spare parts stores.

“With the start of production of the new fuel suppliers, the renewal of our tankers has been initiated. We ensure the sustainability of maritime task forces through military fuel supply on the high seas, while also meeting current environmental protection standards and, above all, making a significant contribution to national and alliance defense. In addition, I am pleased that with the NVL, but also the Meyer shipyard, two German shipyards are making a significant contribution to maintaining capability with their know-how," said Annette Lehnigk-Emden, President of the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw ).

According to earlier information, the two marine fuel suppliers "Rhön" and "Spessart" will reach the end of their service life in 2023 ("Spessart") and 2024 ("Rhön") after more than 40 years of operation. There may be a capability gap here. Learned in December 2022European safety & technology aus der zuständigen Abteilung des Bundesamts für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr: „Geplanter Zulauf der neuen Betriebsstoffversorger sind März 2025 bzw. März 2026.“

Today's start of burning comes almost two years after the signing of the contract. Which indicates design challenges to be solved and would not be expected in an 'off the shelf' purchase. In addition, Tim Wagner, CEO of the NVL Group. "This complex construction phase also clearly shows that the naval fuel suppliers are not simple tankers, but distinctive naval ships with numerous corresponding military requirements."

In his target picture published in March 2023, the inspector of the navy assumes three fuel suppliers. Decisions on this have not yet been made.

core data

Hans Uwe Mergener

Related topics

Navy tankers are stuck in Koblenz and Berlin Reconnaissance drones for the Corvette K130 Steel cutting for Bulgarian patrol ships North Rhine-Westphalia – Second F125-class frigate handed over to the BAAINBw F125 "Baden-Württemberg" handed over to the Bundeswehr Renk selected as supplier for F126 frigates The first sea trial boat floats Rolls-Royce supplies mtu marine gensets for F126 Sea Battalion - Procurement of 15 combat boats initiated