Wattenlaeufer Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On February 19, 2017, officers aboard the police vessel Sylt conducted a routine inspection of the mussel cutter 'Wattenläufer - Wyk 8' in the Föhrer Ley, situated east of Föhr island. During the inspection, authorities discovered that the vessel's captain had exceeded allowable working hours and failed to adequately secure a cargo of 32 steel pipes, each measuring 20 meters in length and approximately 51 centimeters in diameter, totaling around 150 tons. These pipes, manufactured in the Netherlands, were intended for mussel farming operations in Hörnum on the island of Sylt. Furthermore, the shipowner lacked the necessary authorization to transport the cargo. Following the inspection, the vessel was mandated to dock at the nearest port, Wyk upon Föhr. After the captain received a sufficient rest period and the cargo was secured according to safety regulations, the ban was lifted. However, the captain faced consequences for the safety violations and was required to pay a fine related to the infractions.

On September 15, 2013, the scalloper 'Wattenläufer' executed a daring rescue mission for an LM-28 yacht that found itself in distress off the coast of Sylt. The vessel had run aground on a sandbar located approximately one mile northeast of Hörnum port, leading to a broken keel and serious water ingress concerns as the tides threatened to sink the 28-foot yacht. In response to the emergency, the lifeboat 'Horst-Heiner-Kneten' along with a nearby catamaran swiftly arrived at the scene to assist in securing the yacht. However, it was the 'Wattenläufer' that came to the forefront, utilizing its shallow draught of just 0.8 meters to come alongside the stranded vessel. Employing its fishing gear, the scalloper successfully lifted the yacht from the precarious situation and transported it back to Hörnum port, where it was safely placed onto the pier. For additional insights and visuals of this remarkable rescue, please refer to the German report available at: http://www.yacht.de/panorama/news/huckepack-vom-watt-geschleppt/a83325.html