Distress at sea: New helicopters for SAR missions in the North and Baltic Seas

After the new helicopter has been extensively tested for three years and passed all the necessary tests, it will replace the tried and tested but ageing Mk41 "Sea King".

For around 50 years, the "Sea King" helicopters have flown countless rescue missions and helped many seafarers out of extreme distress. Now the new "Sea Lions" will replace the old helicopters one by one over the course of the year.

With its two engines, the "Sea Lion" achieves 4,800 hp and a top speed of up to 324 km/h. There is space on board for up to 16 people in flight over the sea.

If necessary, the new helicopters will also man the outposts in Warnemünde, Helgoland and Borkum. Like their predecessors, the "Sea Lions" work closely with the DGzRS in Bremen in emergencies at sea.

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In 2019, YACHT editor Michael Rink was rescued from a moving sailing yacht by a helicopter during an emergency drill. You can see the impressive pictures in this gallery.

Patrick Testa-Kreitz, Press and Public Relations of the DGzRS:

"Sea rescuers and naval aviators support each other in carrying out their respective sovereign tasks. The cooperation between the two as part of the global family of SAR services has been particularly close for decades."

Since the delivery of the new "Sea Lion" SAR helicopters, many different rescue units and DGzRS crews have trained approach and winching procedures for the new helicopter with the naval pilots in all areas of the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

In border areas, the German Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Bremen, which is operated by the DGzRS, also deploys SAR helicopters from neighbouring countries. Co-operation by air is just as unbureaucratic and smooth as co-operation at sea.

In addition to the SAR service, the sea rescuers also deploy other helicopters at sea to provide support in the event of an emergency at sea or other emergencies at sea, such as medical emergencies. The sea rescuers receive support from the Federal Police Air Wing, from the rescue helicopters operated by Northern Helicopter (NHC) for emergency preparedness on offshore wind turbines and from smaller helicopters operated close to the coast by ADAC and the police forces of the federal states.