Eschwege

On May 14, 2025,, the new Russian corvette "Merkuriy" was shadowed by the 'Echwege' as she left the Baltic Sea. Apparently, there is a connection to the ongoing negotiations on a possible ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The "Merkuriy" had completed a maintenance break in the Baltic Sea and is said to be on its way to the Mediterranean. The "Merkuriy" was delivered just two years ago by the Severnaya Shipyard in St. Petersburg as the first of two "Steregutchichiy"-class corvettes for the Black Sea Fleet. 12 units have been laid down since 2006 at shipyards in St. Petersburg and on the Amur River. Following the initial delivery of four units each to the Baltic Fleet and the Pacific Fleet, two new ships are now being built for the Black Sea Fleet, which is based in Sevastopol on the temporary Russian occupied Crimea. The "Merkuriy" has not yet been able to be transferred to its home port of Sevastopol, as Turkey denied the ship the passage through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus in 2024 due to Russia's war against the Ukraine. The 'Merkuriy's' passage into the Mediterranean can also be interpreted as a sign that Russia is counting on being able to pass through the Bosphorus again soon. Russia currently has several frigates and support vessels in the Mediterranean, including the Black Sea Fleet frigate "Admiral Grigorovich," which was spotted near the Syrian coast in early May. The corvette "Soobraztelniy," a sister of the "Merkuriy," is also currently in the Mediterranean off the Algerian coast along with the Russian naval tanker "Kola," which serves as a floating refueling station. The military convoy that left the Baltic Sea on May 2 was also seen in the area this week. This convoy consists of the corvette "Boikiy" and three freighters carrying military supplies for Africa. The Russian Navy's activities along German waters were shadowed by Federal Police patrol vessels. The "Eschwege" from Neustadt, originally deployed as a training ship, was also in the Baltic Sea. It had to track the "Merkuriy" in the Fehmarn Belt at high speed. The Danish and Polish navies also deployed patrol units. The "Merkuriy" passed through the German economic zone and the Fehmarn Belt without any incidents in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. Report with photos: https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/russische-fregatte-der-schwarzmeerflotte-auf-dem-weg-ins-mittelmeer-MSR526U7U5HKZDFPNHYZC5NIKI.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawKTHb5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHqCurDXw_54pAunaU3kUAbeu_DkjYJo5pwLPJMnDjf8TQOQG4HN1s6hEN4m6_aem_QqRLlA1FFjlU3pma181lqw#Echobox=1747317849

In the evening of Sep 12, 2011, the MRCC Bremen sent the "Eschwege" to the distressed yacht "Brommel" which had suffered engine failure 4 miles northwest of Ahrenshoop. The boat was adrift in choppy seas and the 82-year old skipper had broken two fingers in an attempt to fix the engine. Both crewmembers were very fatigue. The small boat of the "Eschwege" was launched and took the "Brommel" in tow. At 7.30 p.m. it was released by the lifeboat "Vormann Jantzen" which pulled the "Brommel" to port. German report with photos: http://www.presseportal.de/polizeipresse/pm/70261/2111361/bpol-see-motoryachtbesatzung-aus-seenot-gerettet