"Exercise,exercise, exercise, this is 'Carlo Schneider', we have a total black out",sounds from the radio of the "Gerhard Elsner", the classic 10.1 metre sea rescue boat of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Association. Normally, the crew of the "Elsner" is stationed at the Schilksee volunteer centre. Today they are in Olpenitz to rehearse for an emergency. This is because the "Carlo Schneider", the sea rescuers' training ship, is visiting.
On its tour along the German North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts, the mobile training unit has already stopped at 27 sea rescue stations since it was launched a year ago and offered a number of volunteers the opportunity to expand their skills on site in their area. "The sea rescue service requires lifelong learning," says trainer Thomas Baumgärtel, who has just made the training emergency call on board the "Carlo Schneider". "As soon as I think I know and can do everything, it becomes dangerous." The 56-year-old is part of the crew of the sea rescue training fleet, which rotates every 14 days. He and his colleagues always travel in teams of three on the "Carlo Schneider" from one station to the next to provide decentralised training for the volunteers.
Volunteer sea rescuers receive their search and rescue-specific training in their free time. Until now, they have mainly been trained at the training centre in Neustadt and in Bremen. For over a year now, however, the Sea Rescue Academy has had its "floating classroom" in the form of the "Carlo Schneider". Or as Thomas Baumgärtel affectionately calls it: "our travelling circus". "This is a huge advantage for our 800 or so volunteers when we come to their homes. On the one hand, they don't have to take time off work and travel, and on the other, they get to practise in their own area, where they will go out in an emergency."
Every towing manoeuvre is different
Towing stricken boats is one of the classics in the portfolio of sea rescuers. Routine, you might think. But every towing manoeuvre is different. And today, the "Elsner" is hooking a particularly big fish. This is because the "Carlo Schneider" itself is becoming a distressed vessel. The trainees are to find out how a 22-metre steel displacement vessel weighing around 110 tonnes behaves when being towed. David against Goliath, so to speak. What effect does the mass have when going alongside and manoeuvring? "It's pure physics," says Baumgärtel, who went through the manoeuvre with the trainees on a model beforehand. A modern training room is available on the "Carlo Schneider" for theoretical training. "But nothing trains you as well as experiencing these forces yourself when you're at the helm and testing the limits yourself."
The first towing exercise takes place in the mirror-smooth harbour basin of the Baltic Sea resort of Olpenitz. The spacious former military harbour offers the ideal conditions for practice manoeuvres with a towing group of this size. After a few attempts, the trainees finally manage to manoeuvre the "Carlo Schneider" safely through the piles and dock with her. "Calm conditions like this are perfect for practising," explains Baumgärtel. "You might think that it's better for our trainees to learn in adverse conditions. But the point is that they internalise the procedures and are happy to make mistakes so that they work in an emergency, even in rough seas."
Many casualties are overwhelmed and frightened
The next day, the sea is a little choppier with a freshening north-westerly wind of force 4 to 5. They head out of the harbour to practise handing over the line in swell, towing on the long line and, last but not least, communicating with the distressed vessel. "You must never lose sight of the psychology of the moment," explains Baumgärtel. "Many casualties are overwhelmed and frightened. Some are so confused that they can't even tell starboard from port. It can happen that the heaving line is tied instead of being pulled until the actual towline arrives. In the best case scenario, unlike us, this is their first time in such a situation. Our job is to exude calm and safety and to give them precise and clear instructions."
Timo Görgens, skipper on board the "Gerhard Elsner", takes over communication with the "Carlo Schneider": "'Elsner' - 'Schneider'. Understood, you are unable to manoeuvre. We are on our way to you. Please have someone ready to take the heaving line on the forecastle. Do you know how to use a towing anchor?"
No one can do everything
In "real life", Timo Görgens builds research equipment in a precision engineering workshop at Kiel University. The 41-year-old has been working for the sea rescuers in his spare time for eight years and goes out when others come in. As with the volunteer fire brigade, he is alerted when someone needs help out at sea. And then he and his colleagues go out, at any time of day or night and in any weather.
In most cases, they are called out to provide technical assistance and towing. But in summer, it is not uncommon for exhausted kiters and swimmers to drift off. Despite his many years of experience, Timo is grateful for the opportunity to train: "Nobody can do everything. My impression of the two days so far is that it really has helped me progress. It's a great opportunity to gain experience in a safe environment. A 110-tonne ship is not an everyday average for us. I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity."
A well-directed throw, and a minute later the "Carlo Schneider" is hooked
The line handover goes smoothly. A well-directed cast, and a minute later the "Carlo Schneider" is hooked. Timo steps on the gas and immediately realises that the weight is pushing the small rescue unit to its limits. Timo's enjoyment of the exercise is clear to see. "The plan is to get the 'Carlo' set up in tow on the keel line and then manoeuvre her into the harbour on the long line. And then, when we have room, we can take her alongside and moor her."
An unmanoeuvrable boat is a classic. The danger posed by a ship drifting uncontrollably should not be underestimated. But there are also much more dramatic missions to which the sea rescuers are called. Man overboard, fire in the engine room, water ingress - sometimes it's a matter of life and death, and then every second counts. And the number of missions is rising with increasing maritime traffic and ever larger ships. It is therefore essential that sea rescuers are as well prepared as possible for any situation and remain in training.
The DGzRS is the only sea rescue organisation in the world that has a ship specially built for training purposes
Due to coronavirus, training on the "Carlo Schneider" was previously limited to smaller groups of three to four volunteers and without overnight accommodation on board. However, the ship is designed to accommodate eight trainees on board in addition to the three regular crew members. Longer training voyages are planned from next year, during which various scenarios will be played out. So far, the timetable has mainly focused on basics such as safety, seamanship, towing and manoeuvring. Once all stations have been visited in 2023, the programme will continue with technical navigation such as radar training on the training consoles. There will be the opportunity to simulate "sailing in reduced visibility". Collision and encounter manoeuvres and the evacuation of injured persons from the ship's interior will also be practised. A fog machine and a so-called Pandora's box, which simulates the screams of injured persons, among other things, create realistic stress situations.
The entire ship was planned and built in such a way that you can learn everything there is to learn about sea rescue. Right down to deciding which engines should be installed: The eleven-knot ship is powered by two Cummins engines. The engines are actually too small for a ship of this size. However, the cruiser was not built for real operations, but for training. The same engines that the crews are familiar with from their 10.1 metre sea rescue boats were therefore deliberately installed here. This means they can also receive technical training and further training here.
Few things are more important for safety than good training
This makes the DGzRS the only sea rescue organisation in the world to have a ship built specifically for training purposes. The "Carlo Schneider" is the fulfilment of a long-cherished wish for the trainers at the Maritime Rescue Academy. This is because the need to train volunteers has increased over the years. "In the past, you could rely more on ready-made seafarers," says Baumgärtel. "Today, there are fewer and fewer people in Germany who come from a seafaring background and have the relevant experience. It's nice if the volunteers already have some knowledge, but that's not a prerequisite. If you have the time and desire to get involved with the sea rescuers, we will train you from the ground up. And that's exactly what this ship was built for."
Once a year, the sea rescuers in Wilhelmshaven train for emergencies on a grand scale
It was named after the Swiss Carl-Erich August Schneider (1924-2017), whose estate made the construction possible. In his will, he stipulated that the money should be used to increase the safety of the crews. "And hardly anything serves safety more than good training," Baumgärtel is convinced. The trained mechanical engineer landed in seafaring early on due to family tradition. He financed his studies with charter trips and transfers, and later also ran his own sailing school for a time. He joined the sea rescue organisation over 20 years ago and has been working for the company as a permanent employee since 2006. Thomas Baumgärtel is particularly pleased that he is now able to travel with his "travelling circus". "You get around and meet new people all the time. You can't get more variety than that."
The SAREx (Search and Rescue Exercise) in Wilhelmshaven is a highlight of the year that is also on the "Carlo Schneider's" tour schedule. Once a year, the sea rescuers train for emergencies on a grand scale here. The large-scale exercise involves several rescue units as well as search and rescue helicopters from naval aviation and vehicles from the federal police and customs. In addition, there will be emergency and casualty actors. After the spectacle, the "Carlo Schneider" will continue along the coast. Next she will call at the stations in Damp, Gelting Mole, Langballig, Laboe and Schilksee. There is no better job for Thomas Baumgärtel. Everything he loves comes together here: ships, the sea, helping others and passing on his knowledge: "And as the saying goes? If you get paid for what you love, you never have to work again."
The sea rescuers
In Germany, sea rescue is not state-run organised. Responsibility for the maritime search and rescue service in German waters lies in the hands of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS), which was founded in 1865 and is financed purely by donations. Around 1,000 crew members are deployed on board the 60 rescue units at 55 stations from Borkum to Ueckermünde. More than 800 of them are volunteers. Around 180 permanent employees with nautical or technical licences man the 20 large rescue cruisers. They are on standby at the stations around the clock for 14 days at a time. In 2021, the sea rescuers carried out 2,023 missions - an average of five per day - helping 3,505 people on the North Sea and Baltic Sea and saving the lives of 61 people in distress at sea.
- Further information under seenotretter.de
