Working Conditions Aboard the Neustadt

The 'Neustadt' quickly exited Nobiskrug shipyard in Rendsburg after the facility announced its intention to file for insolvency on December 12. The vessel had docked for inspection and maintenance work starting December 1, having made the journey from its home port in Neustadt. However, it remains uncertain if all scheduled tasks were finalized before the ship’s hasty departure. The undocking process commenced abruptly when it was revealed that the shipyard was about to lose power due to unpaid bills, foreshadowing the arrival of insolvency proceedings. With electricity being cut off on December 13, key dock operations, including pump functions, crane usage, and welding equipment, became inoperable. This situation meant that the 'Neustadt' could have been trapped in the dock for months had it not departed when it did. With assistance from the tug 'Bagalut', the 'Neustadt' successfully navigated out of the flooded dock shortly after 1 p.m., entering the Kiel Canal as it made its way towards Kiel. The need for the 'Neustadt' is critical in the Baltic Sea, particularly as its sister ships 'Bamberg' and 'Bad Düben' have been alternating duties guarding the Chinese freighter 'Yi Peng 3' in Kattegat. In the absence of a large vessel, the Federal Police's border security capacities in the Baltic are jeopardized, leaving only the 'Potsdam' on station off Fehmarn. Recently, Federal Police vessels have been monitoring Russian Naval activity, an area where the 'Neustadt' has also functioned in the past. Anticipating a new assignment on the night of December 13, preparations have been underway for the evacuation of Russian bases in Syria, necessitating a convoy that includes the heavy cargo transport ship 'Sparta', which is expected to be protected by at least one of Russia’s combat ships. The arrival of this Russian convoy is foreseen near Fehmarn around midnight.

On June 20, 2024, the German patrol ship 'Neustadt' commenced surveillance of the Russian reconnaissance vessel 'Vasily Tatishchev' off the coast of Kiel. The 'Vasily Tatishchev', stationed in Kaliningrad, has been shadowing NATO forces participating in the Baltops naval exercises. On June 19, the Russian ship made its way past Rügen and Rostock towards Kiel, escorted by a Danish Navy patrol boat and a vessel from the Federal Police. Equipped with cutting-edge antennas and radomes, the reconnaissance ship established its position on the crucial Kiel-Baltic Sea shipping route between Fehmarn and the Kiel lighthouse on the morning of June 20. So far, no infractions of maritime regulations have been reported. The Danish Navy remains in close proximity to the Russian ship, meticulously monitoring its maneuvers. By the afternoon, the 'Vasily Tatishchev' was seen navigating at a slow speed in a designated area midway between the northwestern point of Fehmarn and the southern edge of Langeland. This vessel belongs to the Russian 'Vishnya' class (Project 864), constructed in Poland between 1985 and 1988 and commissioned into service in 1988. As one of just two such ships in the Baltic Sea, it operates under the radar of German data protection laws, as necessary intelligence-gathering activities performed from a naval vessel are exempt from those regulations. The status of naval ships is similar to that of diplomatic missions, meaning any espionage actions can only be addressed should the ship enter the territorial waters of Germany or Denmark. Currently, the 'Vasily Tatishchev' remains in international waters, allowing its crew of over 100 soldiers and specialists to fulfill their duties unimpeded. Since the commencement of the Baltops exercises, Russian reconnaissance vessels have been closely monitoring NATO naval units, yet no incidents have been reported. Alongside the 'Vasily Tatishchev', another reconnaissance ship, the 'Zhigulevsk', has also been active in the area.