German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People

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German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People
(DGzRS)
logo
legal form Old legal association
founding May 29, 1865 in Kiel
founder Consul Hermann Henrich Meier
Seat Bremen ( coordinates: 53 ° 4 ′ 14.2 ″  N , 8 ° 48 ′ 27.5 ″  E )
precursor Association of regional associations for sea ​​rescue
motto Go out when others come in!
main emphasis non-profit aid organization for sea rescue
Action space German North and Baltic Seas
Chair Gerhard Harder
people Adolph Bermpohl
Georg Breusing
Arwed Emminghaus
sales 52,200,000 euros (2018)
Employees 287 (2018)
Volunteers 1457 (2018)
Website seenotretter.de

The German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (GMRS) is the German non-governmental rescue organization , which for the Search and Rescue (SAR Search and Rescue at) distress cases in the German part of the North and Baltic Sea is responsible. For this task, 59 lifeboats of different sizes are used at 55 stations.

The DGzRS does not receive any government funding and covers most of its costs through voluntary donations .

Tasks and organization

Economic zones in the North Sea, the duck's bill corresponds to the German share

The society , as the DGzRS on the coast is also known for short, carries out its tasks autonomously and independently. The command center for all measures in the maritime SAR service in the Federal Republic is the Bremen Sea Emergency Line , which can be reached at any time via Bremen Rescue Radio . Internationally, it acts as the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center Bremen (MRCC Bremen) and monitors the German territorial waters and the German exclusive economic zones , which extend up to 400 kilometers like a " duck's bill " into the North Sea. The DGzRS maintains 55 rescue stations (as of 2018) between the Ems estuary in the west (westernmost station is Borkum ) and the Pomeranian Bay in the east (easternmost station is Ueckermünde ) over a coastline of 3,660 kilometers . In addition, the MRCC Bremen is also internationally active, as it works in accordance with the SAR agreement in conjunction with the neighboring countries and their MRCC and offers support for German ships and German seafarers at any time and anywhere on earth.

DGzRS headquarters in Bremen

In addition to the rescue stations, the company also has an SAR school in Bremen with a branch in Neustadt in Holstein , where lifeboats that have been withdrawn from service are available for training purposes. The company has 279 permanent employees, 180 of whom serve as sea rescuers on the 20 sea ​​rescue cruisers (SRK). The volunteer stations with the rescue boats (SRB) are manned by 800 voluntary sea ​​rescue workers. Nearly 600 more volunteers support the society on land with its fundraising, lectures and trade fairs. The company is based in Bremen.

Since 1872 the DGzRS has been recognized by the Bremen Senate as a legal person and is therefore an association under old law that does not have the addition “e. V. “leads. After the Federal Republic of Germany officially acceded to the 1979 International Convention on Search and Rescue at Sea (SAR) on April 19, 1982 , the contractual requirements for the Federal Republic of Germany had to be implemented. Since the SAR services at sea had already been carried out by the DGzRS, the responsible Federal Ministry for Transport, Building and Housing (BMVBW) gave the DGzRS the state mandate to coordinate search and rescue activities in the German sea area.

The DGzRS is a full member of the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF), a global alliance of sea rescue services that organizes the World Maritime Rescue Congress every four years .

financing

The company is a non-profit aid organization and finances its core mission - the search and rescue of people - through voluntary donations, which also include financial contributions from the termination of criminal proceedings. She bills at least some of the technical assistance services, and she receives reimbursement for patient transport from the health insurance companies. According to her own statements, she only received tax money after the two world wars to rebuild her rescue fleet, and not at all since 1957. Income comes from z. B. from membership fees and donations (approx. 74-76%), bequests , condolences, etc. Ä. (approx. 7–8%), contributions from shipping (approx. 7–9%), collective boats (approx. 6%) and donations from monetary issues (approx. 3–5%). In 2017, the general collection proceeds amounted to EUR 23.1 million. Together with the special purpose donations and the donations from foundations and inheritances, the total income amounted to 39.5 million euros.

Of the total income, approx. 85% in the rescue service, 10% for public relations and 5% for administrative costs. An internal audit and an auditor ensure that the funds entrusted to you are checked regularly. In addition, the DGzRS is regularly checked for its non-profit status by the tax office. As a member of the German Donation Council e. V., the DGzRS has committed itself to disclose its structures, activities, projects and finances and to give an account of its work in an annual report.

The collecting boats (donation cans) in the form of a rowing lifeboat are part of everyday life in the coastal countries and have an “anchorage” in many public institutions and bars in order to offer as many people as possible the opportunity to “load” the boat. In recognition of their work, the Deutsche Bundespost dedicated a stamp with the motif of the collecting boat to mark the 125th anniversary of the DGzRS.

history

DGzRS technology and use, 1880
Old view of the Borkum rescue shed
Rescue boat Weser (1961)

The first German rescue station was founded in Memel, today's Klaipėda , in 1802 . The commercial corporation donated a lifeboat manned by a pilot . For the first time in Germany in 1827 in the shallow coastal waters near Memel, attempts were made to shoot mountain lines with the help of cannons at stranded ships. In 1839 the private institution came under state administration.

In the middle of the 19th century, around 50 ships per year crashed off the German North Sea islands. A lack of equipment and the beach law still in force often prevented rescue measures. One of the accidents was the sinking of the Johanne in 1854 off Spiekeroog , which killed 84 emigrants. Moved by such disasters, calls for the formation of a national rescue agency followed. But it was not until 1861 that rescue associations were founded independently of one another in Emden , Bremerhaven and Hamburg . The first rescue stations were set up on Juist and Langeoog .

On May 29, 1865 these societies united in Kiel to form the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People with the aim of rescuing people from distress at sea. Adolph Bermpohl , Georg Breusing and Arwed Emminghaus were among the initiators . The first chairman was the co-founder of the North German Lloyd Consul Hermann Henrich Meier . Heinrich Prince of Prussia was particularly interested in the DGzRS . From 1887 the DGzRS also had stations in Pillau , Memel and Mellneraggen . In 1910 there was a continuous and uniformly equipped network with 129 stations off the entire German coast from Borkum to Nimmersatt ( East Prussia ).

During the Second World War , the units were provided with the Red Cross and were under the protection of the Geneva Conventions . In addition to the usual rescue missions by seafarers, there were also rescue missions in favor of shot down planes from all warring parties.

After the Second World War and the division of Germany , the company lost a large part of its stations on the Baltic Sea . In the GDR, the GDR's sea rescue service was set up in parallel . With German reunification in 1990, the company returned to its traditional stations between Poel and Ueckermünde in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and took over the stations of the GDR's sea rescue service.

The DGzRS headquarters was built at Werderstrasse 2/4 until 1954 according to plans by Friedrich Schumacher .

Since 2008 the society has referred to itself in public as DGzRS - Die Seenotretter . The company's merchandising items are sold through DGzRS Service GmbH .

Use statistics

The crews of the 59 rescue cruisers and lifeboats in the North and Baltic Seas are called out to work more than 2,000 times a year. That is an average of six assignments per day. The first goal is to save human lives at sea or to free them from impending danger. As of the end of 2019, 85,234 people have been rescued from distress at sea or freed from life-threatening situations in the overall balance since the company was founded.

In addition to sea rescue, the company also takes on the transport of sick or injured people who have to be brought to the mainland from ships, islands or Halligen . In order to protect ships and boats from total loss, the sea rescuers carry out around 1,000 relief missions for all types of watercraft and secure missions from other institutions. In order to maintain the crews' knowledge of the area, regular inspection drives are carried out in order to be able to maneuver safely even in poor weather conditions.

Usage statistics for the last five years
2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Number of stations 55 55 54 54 54
Number of lifeboats 59 59 60 60 60
Number of missions 2.140 2.156 2,056 2,019 2,091
Number of people rescued from distress at sea 81 38 58 56 55
Number of people freed from imminent danger 270 318 432 621 483
Passenger transport from ships and islands to the mainland 373 369 467 368 400
Number of ships / boats saved from total loss 54 56 60 47 63
Assistance for watercraft 1.014 1.012 890 1003 941
Start-ups and backup trips 606 613 537 501 568
Inspection trips 2.712 2,741 2,633 2,843 2,827

Source: Yearbooks of the DGzRS z. Federation .

The Baltic Sea station Laboe near Kiel was the station with the most missions in 2017 and was used 123 times - on average every three days. The 20 sea rescue cruisers alone travel around 70,000 nautical miles or around 130,000 kilometers each year, which is more than three times around the world.

Flag with Hanseatic Cross

For 150 years the DGzRS has been using the red Hanseatic Cross on a white background with a thin black border as a general identification symbol. The colors red and white were the colors of the Hanseatic League and adorned the city flags of some Hanseatic cities. The North German Federation approved the flag and colors of the DGzRS by decree on May 23, 1868. The rectangular service flag is shown on ships, boats and rescue stations and the round emblem identifies all inventory from ship to life jacket.

150th anniversary

The company celebrated its 150th anniversary with a big party in May 2015. The then patron, Federal President Joachim Gauck , paid tribute to the work of the sea rescuers at a ceremony in Bremen's town hall. A new rescue boat and a new rescue cruiser were christened in Bremen and Bremerhaven. In addition, an exhibition of sea rescue ships ( open ship ) from all over the world and the international conference of sea rescue services took place in Bremerhaven . The Federal Ministry of Finance has issued a special postage stamp worth 62 cents and a 10 euro commemorative coin as legal tender in honor of the sea rescuers . In 2015, she was awarded the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Tourism Prize in recognition of the company's achievements .

fleet

Ship logo of the DGzRS
Cooperation between SAR helicopter and rescue cruiser

As with all sea rescue organizations, the DGzRS fleet initially consisted entirely of open rowing rescue boats (RRB), which later also received auxiliary sails . For rescue crews, there were as hedging cork life jackets and for the beach rescue came easy missile equipment with Breechesmaker added. It was not until 50 years after its founding that the boats began to be 'tentatively' motorized, although the technology was initially very unreliable. It was only with the development of compact and robust diesel engines that the decision was made in the mid-1920s to only put covered new buildings with diesel engines into service. These were known as coastal lifeboats (KR) or ships (KRS). By the beginning of the Second World War , their number rose to 40 units. In addition, there were still 52 rowing lifeboats. The last motor lifeboats built during the war were given a new tower structure for the first time, which gave the foreman a much better overview and greater visibility.

In the 1950s, after its financial consolidation , the DGzRS began to think about a motor lifeboat of the future . Derived from the change in maritime traffic to ever larger ships and shipping lanes far from the coast, new requirements were formulated, which also took into account technical progress in shipbuilding and engine development. Compared to the existing boats, the new type should be able to achieve double the maximum speed and have unlimited seaworthiness even in extremely bad weather. For this purpose, the boats should also be able to be used without problems in the extensive shallow water areas in the North Sea's Wadden Sea. This was the hour of birth for a daughter boat (TB) that is carried in a stern tub. The first result of this development was the commissioning of the rescue cruiser " Hermann Apelt " in 1955. From this unique piece of the "new generation" with TB, a new class was created with the findings from the rescue operations, with which a new, groundbreaking era in the construction of modern, versatile rescue cruiser began. The type ship " Theodor Heuss " was put into service in 1957. With its self-righting function and its three engines, which were sufficient for a speed of 20  knots , it was a highly regarded innovative type of ship. In the years that followed, all new lifeboats were built and developed according to this principle.

The first rescue cruisers were still made of steel. Since 1967 the DGzRS has been building with seawater-resistant aluminum. A proven net frame construction ensures high seaworthiness, through which even hard ground contact in the pronounced shallow water areas of the North Sea can be survived. With an average operating time of the units of around 30 years, there is a need for renewal of 2 units, which have to be put into service every year.

Table of the rescue cruisers of the DGzRS

As the backbone for the SAR service, there are 20 modern and powerful sea rescue cruisers available today. To protect the crew, the newer boats have only fully enclosed deck houses whose 1996 squad bridges provide a good overview on all sides. With a professional crew, these boats are always on standby at 18 stations around the clock and ready to leave immediately. Standard drive systems are diesel engines with fixed propellers and modern reversing gears, which also allow quick changes of direction. Water-jet propulsion , as used by other companies in their new boats, can only be found in the two daughter boats of the large lifeboats and in the 7-meter class lifeboats. The first four work boats of the rescue cruisers in the 20-meter class also have jet propulsion. These four and the two aforementioned TBs are the only rigid inflatable boats of the DGzRS. The two newer work boats are all plastic boats (RBB Rigid Buoyant Boat ) with outboard motors .

Rescue cruiser with permanent employees (FA) - ready for action at any time
Boat class length width gravure
gang
Bau-
mat.
crew i. D.
since
Number Motors
total power
v-max
(drive)
Range Number
born
Number

i. D.

Number
Res.
Others
28 meters 27.90 m 6.20 m 1.95 m Alu 4 FA 2014 2 → 2,880 kW 24 kn (FP) 600-800 nm 4th 4th 0 TB 8.2 m
36.5 meters 36.45 m 8.20 m 2.70 m Alu 5 FA 2010 3 → 4,785 kW 25 kn (FP) 1,400 nm 1 1 0 TB 8.9 m
20 metres 19.90 m 5.05 m 1.30 m Alu 3 FA 2008 1 → 1,232 kW 22 kn (FP) 820 nm 6th 6th 0 Work 4.8 m
46 meters 46.00 m 10.66 m 2.80 m Alu 7 FA 2003 3 → 6,803 kW 25 kn (FP) 2,120 nm 1 1 0 TB 8.9 m
23.1 meters 23.10 m 6.00 m 1.60 m Alu 4 FA 1996 2 → 1,986 kW 23 kn (FP) 1,200 nm 4th 4th 0 TB 8.2 m
27.5 meters 27.50 m
28.20 m
6.53 m 2.10 m Alu 4 FA 1985
1992
3 = 2,420 kW
3 → 2,500 kW
23 kn (FP) -? - 4
2
0
2
0 TB 7.5 m
TB 8.2 m
23.3 meters 23.30 m 5.50 m 2.00 m Alu 4 FA 1980 2 → 1,430 kW 20 Kn (FP) -? - 7th 0 0 TB 6.9 m
As of  April 2020
Explanation of the units: m = meter | kW = kilowatt | kn = knot | sm = nautical mile

Abbreviations: i. D. = in service | v-max = greatest speed | born = built | Res. = Reserve | TB = daughter boat | ArB = work boat | FP = fixed propeller

The rescue cruisers for the 21st century in the picture

Table of the rescue boats of the DGzRS

The rescue cruiser fleet is supplemented by the 39 lifeboats manned by volunteers. Like the rescue cruisers, these boats are constructed of aluminum and are self-erecting. After the earlier half-open design of the steering positions, the latest generation also has a closed deck structure. The two newest boats, on the other hand, are fully plastic boats (RBB) like the last two work boats of the 20-meter class. These boats self-righting by means of an airbag on the bracket above the stern.

Rescue boats with volunteers - ready for action at short notice
Boat class length width gravure
gang
Bau-
mat.
crew i. D.
since
Number Motors
total power
v-max
(drive)
Range Number
born
Number
i. D.
Number
Res.
Others
8.9 meters 8.90 m 3.10 m 0.88 m HDPE 3-4 FW 2018 2 = 294 kW 38 kn (FP) 240 sm 2 2 0 FROM
10.1 meters 10.10 m 3.61 m 0.96 m Alu 3-4 FW 2003 1 = 279 kW
or 235 kW
18 kn (FP) 240 sm 16 16 0
9.5 meters 9.41 m 3.61 m 0.96 m Alu 3-4 FW 1999 1 = 235 kW 18 kn (FP) 240 sm 14th 14th 0
7.0 meters 7.00 m 2.50 m 0.50 m Alu 3-4 FW 1993 1 = 215 kW 24 kn ( jet ) 130 nm 4th 3 0
8.5 meters 8.52 m
8.28 m
3.10 m 0.95 m
0.85 m
Alu 3-4 FW 1992
1987
1 = 158 kW 18 kn (FP) 200 nm 18th 4th 0
As of  April 2020
Explanation of the units: m = meter | kW = kilowatt | kn = knot | sm = nautical mile
Abbreviations: i. D. = in service | Number = Number | v-max = greatest speed | born = built | Res. = Reserve | FP = fixed propeller | AB = outboard motor

The current lifeboats in the picture

future

The requirements for sea rescue will continue to increase in the near future, on the one hand due to the expected deterioration in the weather caused by global warming, and on the other hand due to the sharp increase in traffic, especially in the Baltic Sea (e.g. oil traffic from Russia and the Baltic states, but also due to increasing passenger and leisure traffic). The company takes this into account through further modernization and relocation of the fleet. To this end, the rescue cruisers of the 27.5 m and 23.3 m classes and the lifeboats of the 8.5 m and 7 m classes will be gradually replaced by new buildings.

Currently (04/2020) there are two cruisers of the 28-meter class (SK 41 and 42), two sea rescue boats of the 10.1 m class (SRB 78 and 80) and one sea rescue boat of the 8.9 m class ( SRB 81) under construction.

The following classes will gradually retire from the DGzRS.

Awards

In 1866 the society donated an award for rescue from distress, the Society Medal . In addition, there was the Laeisz Medal , which came from a foundation brought into the society in 1892 by the Association for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People on the High Seas in Hamburg . Up to 1911 alone, 14 large gold medals, 68 small gold medals, 186 large silver medals and 169 small silver medals and 45,398 cash marks were awarded from the Laeisz Foundation for 2926 saved lives.

In 1955, the society combined the two medals and donated the medal for rescue from distress at sea on the ribbon of the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People in three stages: bronze, silver and gold. The award is made by the company's board of directors.

Patron and supporter

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as Federal President also patron of the sea rescuers

The Prussian King Wilhelm I had already taken over the patronage of the rescue work. The incumbent German President has been the patron of the company since 1950 . In addition, the DGzRS has been appointing a prominent personality as a "boat officer" every year since 2000 , who advertises voluntarily for sea rescue.

Anke Harnack, assistant 2020
List of supporters
year Surname job
2000 Reinhard Mey song writer
2001 Jörg Kachelmann Moderator, journalist
2002 Carmen Nebel TV presenter
2003 Godewind Music group
2004 Otto Sander actor
2005 Achim Reichel Musician, composer, producer
2006 Birgit Fischer Canoe racer
2007 Jan Fedder actor
2008 Thomas Schaaf coach
2009 Bettina Tietjen TV presenter
2010 Tim Mälzer TV chef
2011 Uwe Friedrichsen actor
2012 Frank Schätzing writer
2013 Yared Dibaba TV presenter
2014 Klaus location Musician
2015 German Chamber Philharmonic Bremen orchestra
2016 Markus Knüfken actor
2017 Heike Götz moderator
2018 Till Demtrøder actor
2019 Bernd Flessner Windsurfer
2020 Anke Harnack moderator

Sea Rescue Day

Every last weekend in July, the DGzRS presents its lifeboats and lifeboats at many of its stations. Visitors can view the rescue units, experience demonstrations and talk to the crews. The operational readiness of the rescue fleet is always maintained. The first day of the sea rescuers took place under the motto " Mayday " on May 5, 1996 exclusively in the headquarters of the DGzRS. Since 1999, the DGzRS has organized the Sea Rescue Day annually at its rescue stations on the coast and on the islands.

See also

International

literature

  • The German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People . In: The Gazebo . Issue 22, 1866, pp. 343/344 ( full text [ Wikisource ]).
  • H. v. C .: German rescue stations . In: The Gazebo . Issue 17, 1867, pp. 268–270 ( full text [ Wikisource ] - with illustration).
  • A German normal lifeboat . In: The Gazebo . Issue 32, 1868, pp. 501-512 ( full text [ Wikisource ]).
  • Petersen's lifeboat tested! In: The Gazebo . Issue 35, 1868, pp. 560 ( full text [ Wikisource ]).
  • Ferdinand Lindner: The rescue service on the German coast . In: The Gazebo . Volume 4, 1880, pp. 60–64 ( full text [ Wikisource ]).
  • Ulf Kaack, Andreas Lubkowitz, Antke Reemts: Hermann Marwede. The largest rescue cruiser of the DGzRS . Verlag Peter Kurz, Bremen 2003, ISBN 3-927485-45-4 .
  • DGzRS - 140 years, 140 thoughts . DSV-Verlag, Hamburg, ISBN 3-88412-425-0 .
  • Sven Claußen, Ulf Kaack : The rescue cruiser of the DGzRS. History, stories and technology . Verlag Peter Kurz, Bremen (in 3 volumes)
  • Ulf Kaack: The sea rescue cruiser ice bet. Design and construction of the DGzRS rescue units SK 30 and SK 31 . Verlag Peter Kurz, Bremen 2009, ISBN 978-3-927485-93-8 .
  • Ulf Kaack: Deadly storm: The Vegesack rescue trip. The sea rescuers from Horumersiel . Verlag Peter Kurz, Bremen 2010, ISBN 3-927485-96-9 .
  • Sven Claußen, Ulf Kaack: German rescue cruisers all over the world. Licensed buildings, lifeboats, customs cruisers and unique items . Verlag Peter Kurz, Bremen 2010, ISBN 978-3-927485-95-2 .
  • Rescuers on the High Seas: Voluntary. selfless and competent. 150 years of the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People (DGzRS) . In: Schiff & Hafen , issue 5/2015, pp. 12–21.
  • Christian Stipeldey: Go out when others come in. 150 years of rescue at sea in Germany . In: Hansa , jubilee issue January 2014, pp. 116–125.
  • Anne-Katrin Wehrmann: Lifesavers are planning an emergency control center for accidents in offshore wind farms . In: Hansa , Heft 3/2012, S. 96/98.
  • Stefan Kruecken, Jochen Pioch, Enver Hirsch, Thomas Steuer: Mayday! Sea rescuers tell their best stories . Ankerherz Verlag, Hollenstedt / Nordheide 2017, ISBN 978-3-940138-79-8 .

Web links

Commons : German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. a b c d DGzRS yearbook 2017
  2. Full Members. ( Memento of July 3, 2018 in the Internet Archive ) international-maritime-rescue.org, accessed on July 3, 2018.
  3. How an association has been rescuing people from distress at sea for 150 years . In: Badische Zeitung . ( badische-zeitung.de [accessed on August 21, 2017]).
  4. Who we are. Accessed August 21, 2017 .
  5. ^ A b Hans Georg Prager: The distress work began in East Prussia . In: Preussische Allgemeine Zeitung , No. 47, November 21, 2009, p. 11
  6. ^ On August 8, 1861, the "Hamburg Association for Rescue of Shipwrecked People" was founded on the initiative of Ernst Freiherr von Merck . ( Germany , in: Börsen-Halle , August 8, 1861, page 6, digitized version )
  7. The first board of the DGzRS has always been called "Chairman" (see DGzRS: Who we are )
  8. For the 150th anniversary of the DGzRS on the NDR website
  9. a b Sea rescue service for almost 3,400 people on the North and Baltic Seas . dgzrs.de, January 14, 2020
  10. Federal government decides on a ten euro commemorative coin for the anniversary of the sea rescuers - 150 years of the DGzRS (August 20, 2014).
  11. Hans Knarr: Typenkompass Seenotkreuzer Pietsch Verlag (2013) ISBN 978-3-613-50743-2
  12. a b DGzRS fleet on seenotretter.de , accessed on April 28, 2020
  13. ^ Ferdinand Dannmeyer : Seelotsen-, Leucht- und Rettungswesen: a contribution to the characteristics of the North Sea and Lower Elbe. 1911, p. 87
  14. ^ Virtual Order Museum , accessed on February 11, 2019