The hybrid police boat WS1 ‘Bürgermeister Brauer’ was officially welcomed in the Port of Hamburg. After a construction period of almost two years at the Estonian shipyard Baltic Workboats AS, the boat was transferred by sea to Germany and will start its service with the Hamburg water police next year.
In the presence of the Senator for Economics and Labour, Dr Melanie Leonhard, the 29.4-metre-long police boat with environmentally friendly plug-in hybrid drive docked at the Überseebrücke. Also on board were Jens Meier, CEO of the Hamburg Port Authority, Karsten Schönewald, CEO of the Hamburg Fleet, and Olaf Hagenloch, Deputy Head of the Hamburg Water Police.
Sea trials and crew training
The new boat will replace the aging coastal patrol boat of the same name in service at present next year
Particular mention should be made of the powerful 2 x 500 kW electric motors, which enable a minimum of two hours of travel at seven knots on electric power alone. Once the sea trials and crew training have been completed, the new boat will replace the aging coastal patrol boat of the same name in service at present next year.
The new WS1 marks the start of the renewal of the Hamburg police boat fleet. Shortly, the new WS3 ‘Bürgermeister Weichmann,’ a slightly smaller, similar-built vessel, will reach Hamburg and, together with the WS1, will undergo the commissioning phase with crew training.
Promotion of sustainable technologies
A third vessel, identical to the larger WS1, is to be delivered in the course of 2025. The Hamburg fleet is pursuing the idea of a type of vessel that, on the one hand, draws on proven ship designs but, on the other hand, is precisely tailored to the needs of the Hamburg water police.
The Port of Hamburg is actively pursuing a transition towards greater climate neutrality with the aim of becoming climate-neutral by 2040. The promotion of sustainable technologies and energy sources plays a central role in this.
Use of hybrid watercraft
The use of hybrid watercraft by the water police is a further measure to reduce emissions
Since 2017, the Fleet Hamburg has been pooling its municipal watercraft and has already made significant progress. The use of hybrid watercraft by the water police is a further measure to reduce emissions.
Hamburg's Senator for Economic Affairs, Dr. Melanie Leonhard, said: "We are reducing emissions by using modern technologies – the new ships in the Hamburg fleet are protecting the climate by using advanced technology in the Port of Hamburg. This brings us one step closer to achieving our climate targets and reduces our dependence on fossil fuels."
Low-emission propulsion technologies
Karsten Schönewald, CEO of Flotte Hamburg: "With the introduction of the first hybrid police boat in the Port of Hamburg, we are taking an important step towards a sustainable future for watercraft. We are proud to equip the water police with low-emission propulsion technologies and thus actively contribute to reducing emissions in our city."
Olaf Hagenloch, deputy head of the water police: "With this new vessel, the Hamburg water police will continue to carry out their duties in the Port of Hamburg, on the Lower Elbe and in German territorial waters with their usual professionalism and high quality. The fact that this is now being done with an environmentally friendly propulsion system underlines the compatibility of environmental protection and the performance of water police duties."
Technical data
Length overall: 29.4 m
Beam overall: 7.4 m
Maximum draught: 2.2 m
Maximum speed: > 25 kn
Electric speed: > 12 kn
Special features
- Hybrid drive with 2 hours of battery-electric driving time
- Synthetic environmentally friendly fuel GTL
- Wave-piercing bow for a particularly smooth ride in rough seas
- Automatic trim system for more comfort and reduced fuel consumption
