The solution, which was welcomed by all sides, came surprisingly quickly in the end. The long feared end for the traditional sailing ships sailing under the German flag has thus been averted. According to the original version, most of the 100 or so ships affected would have had to undergo expensive or technically impossible conversions in order to be allowed to continue operating. In addition, a standard of training for individual crew members equivalent to commercial shipping was required.
Security at last
These points in particular have now been revised once again and adapted to the possibilities of the mostly volunteer-operated ships and their crews. Both the Joint Commission for Historic Watercraft (GSHW) - the umbrella organisation of the operator associations - as well as the German Sail Training Union - the umbrella organisation of German sail training ships - welcomed the fact that the new regulations finally provide legal certainty and that ship operations can be planned again in the medium and long term.
20 million euros in funding from the federal government
The federal government also promised the operators support for the upcoming investments in their ships. A funding pot of 20 million euros is to be made available to enable the mostly non-profit organisations to carry out the conversions required by the new regulations. The training and further training of crew members is also to be subsidised.
Ombudsman's office to be set up
To support the implementation of the safety regulation, an ombudsman's office will be set up. Dr Valerie Wilms, former member of the Bundestag (the Greens), and Prof. Dr Dr Dr h. c. Peter Ehlers, former President of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), will act as ombudsmen. In particular, they will act as mediators in the event of any disagreements between operators and the licensing authority.
