Since 1986, the so-called "Pollution Control" has been monitoring the German sea and neighbouring sea areas from the air. Airborne monitoring is carried out jointly by the Havariekommando and the German Navy's naval aviation squadron. Two Dornier 228s are stationed at the Nordholz naval air base near Cuxhaven.
Radar, high-resolution cameras and infrared and ultraviolet sensors can be used to detect pollution on the surface of the water. The system is designed to prevent ships from illegally washing their tanks or dumping oil.
51 cases in German waters
Of the 130 cases of pollution detected according to the average command 51 in German waters - 39 in the North Sea and twelve in the Baltic Sea. The remaining cases were spread across Dutch, Danish and Swedish waters. The "oil planes" also patrol these waters on the basis of intergovernmental agreements.
Mineral oil was involved in 36 cases of pollution. In 94 cases, the substances could not be clearly identified. According to the CCME, these are often liquids such as drilling water or residues from tank washing. The CCME forwards the evidence to the responsible authorities in the respective country. The investigating authorities there then take over.
Contamination at a low level
The "Pollution Control" crew flew a total of 472 missions in 2025. They detected pollution approximately every eleven to twelve flight hours. In comparison: in 2023, the alarm sounded every 7.7 hours, in 2024 every 11 hours.
According to the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, the total number of pollution incidents remains at a low level. The high number of national surveillance flights is a strong signal to the shipping industry, according to the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies.
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Fabian Boerger
Editor News & Panorama
