Scharhoern

On Dec 2, the VEBEG has sold the 'Scharhörn' to the JEB Bereederungs GmbH & Co. KG in Elsfleth, which will use it for the entry into the offshore industry.

The decommissioned "Scharhörn" has been put up for auction through the VEBEG, the Federal Government's disposal agency, while at the Abeking & Rasmussen shipyard in Lemwerder, the final work was underway on the first of three new, identical multi-purpose vessels for the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration. The new "Scharhörn" is scheduled to enter service in early 2026. The "Mellum" and "Neuwerk" will also be replaced by new vessels by 2027; the total cost is approximately €680 million. The predecessor of the new "Scharhörn", has been laid up in Kiel. Bids are accepted until Dec 3, 2025. Viewings are available by appointment on Nov 25 annd Nov 26 at the ship's berth in the North Port No minimum price has been specified. The vessel requires an export license because it is equipped with a protective system compliant with NATO standards. Furthermore, the tender documents indicated that asbestos-containing components may still be present in inaccessible areas. The remaining fire extinguishing material also poses risks: it contains PFAS, and approximately 15 tons of it remain edon board. Compliance with environmental, safety, and hazardous materials regulations, as well as legal restrictions on the use of the fire-fighting foam, is the responsibility of the buyer. The "Scharhörn" was built in 1974 at the Rheinwerft shipyard in Duisburg under the name "Ostertor" as a supply vessel for offshore drilling platforms for the VTG Versorgungsschiffahrt GmbH in Bremen. In 1980, the Federal Ministry of Transport took over the vessel and assigned it to the Cuxhaven Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA). Following a comprehensive refit at the Elsfleth Shipyard, it was deployed in the German Bight from 1982 onwards and continuously modernised to meet the requirements of a pollution control vessel. With the commissioning of the "Neuwerk" in 1998, the "Scharhörn" was transferred to the Lübeck water and shipping authority and has since monitored the western Baltic Sea from Flensburg to the Buk lighthouse. Its last major refit was three years ago at the Bredo Shipyard in Bremerhaven. The vessel offers accommodation for up to 14 crew members and features a bridge, chart room, radio room, and various work and recreation areas. The equipment includes crane and sweeper arms, a towing jib, and five fire monitors, two of which are remotely controlled. The buyer is not permitted to use the vessel's name.