Working Conditions Aboard the Walther-Herwig-Iii

On October 21, 2020, during a scientific expedition in the waters off Greenland, the research vessel 'Walther Herwig III' was summoned to provide critical assistance to a Greenland-flagged tugboat in distress. The tug, which was towing a barge and carried a crew of three, found itself drifting perilously close to the shore. After a commendable response time of approximately 12 hours, 'Walther Herwig III' successfully reached the troubled tug. The situation was stabilized, and the research vessel took the tug under tow. Following an arduous 42-hour journey, the convoy finally arrived at the coastal town of Qaqortoq on October 23, ensuring the safety of everyone on board.

On May 4, 2017, at approximately 3:45 PM, the leisure vessel 'Renate' encountered a significant setback as it suffered an engine malfunction while departing the locks of the Kiel Canal in Kiel-Holtenau. The unfavorable weather conditions, marked by strong winds, caused the boat to drift perilously towards the cargo ship 'Barbarossa' (IMO No.: 9197765). While the crew of the 'Barbarossa' attempted to assist by throwing a rope to the 'Renate,' the situation worsened when the leisure boat drifted away once more, colliding with the bow of the 'Walther Herwig III.' This research vessel was en route to the Baltic Sea from Bremerhaven at the time. Thankfully, a nearby sailing yacht, which had already departed the lock, noticed the unfolding drama and swiftly turned back to lend a helping hand. By 4:05 PM, the 'Renate' was successfully pulled free and escorted to safety at the Tiessen Quay. For additional details and photos, visit the German report here: http://forum-schiff.de/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23&p=136336#p136336.

The German Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung, BLE) has officially awarded a contract to DAMEN Shipyards Group for the construction of a cutting-edge Fisheries Research Vessel, as announced in a recent press release from the company. This contract was secured following a successful European tender conducted by the Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau, BAW). The new vessel, named Walther Herwig, will play a pivotal role in bolstering Germany’s fisheries and oceanographic research initiatives. Built to the highest scientific and environmental standards, the Walther Herwig will measure an impressive 85 x 17.40 meters, making it the largest vessel in the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture's fleet. The large dimensions will accommodate a crew of 26, alongside 26 scientists. Equipped with state-of-the-art scientific facilities, the vessel will feature two hangars, both wet and dry laboratories, and comprehensive trawling gear designed for demersal and pelagic fisheries research. Additionally, the vessel's scientific teams will utilize advanced winches capable of deploying equipment to depths of up to 6,000 meters for in-depth physical and biological oceanographic studies. During the contract signing ceremony in Hamburg, Frank de Lange, DAMEN's Commercial Director for North, West & South Europe, expressed pride in being awarded this significant contract for such an innovative research vessel. He also emphasized the commitment to maintaining a close working relationship with the German Federal Office for Agriculture and Food throughout the construction phase. The Walther Herwig will be constructed at DAMEN Shipyards Galati in Romania, based on a design finalized in collaboration with the renowned Norwegian ship designers Skipsteknisk. The anticipated delivery date for this advanced vessel is set for January 2020.