‘Biber’ naval jet ski: A quick way to carry out recreational craft inspections?

Small, manoeuvrable and featuring a distinctive skid at the stern: the Navy has expanded its fleet to include jet skis. These watercraft, nicknamed ‘Beavers’ and capable of speeds of up to 38 knots, are intended for use in situations where larger patrol boats are less manoeuvrable. They can also be used to carry out checks, for example in military security zones; the inspection of pleasure craft is explicitly stated as one of their purposes. However, outside military security zones, the Navy requires a legally authorised reason to do so. It is not permitted to simply pull up alongside a vessel and check the driver’s licence, alcohol levels or equipment.

Locations on the North Sea and the Baltic Sea

Officially, the vessels are known as Maritime Interdiction Security Safety Craft, or MISC for short. They owe their nickname ‘Biber’ to their wide stern skid. The naval equipment includes, amongst other things, a reinforced hull, signal lights and rescue equipment. According to the dpa report on the presentation in Wilhelmshaven The jet skis can reach speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour, or around 38 knots. The vehicles are still being tested; no decision has yet been made regarding their wider introduction.

The first six ‘Biber’ vehicles to be put into service are initially spread across two locations: three vehicles went to Neustadt in Holstein, and three to Wilhelmshaven. Warnemünde is being considered as a further deployment location.

Purposes: Monitoring and rescue

Anyone entering a military security zone must expect to be checked. Soldiers carrying out relevant guard or security duties are authorised to verify a person’s identity and whether they are permitted to be there. This authority is derived from the Act on Military Guard and Security Duties.

The The Navy therefore explicitly refers to sports and leisure boats as potential points of contact during inspections. From now on, these small vessels are intended to enable direct communication without the need to deploy a larger security boat. In Wilhelmshaven, for example, the route to the large sea lock passes through the military outer harbour. Pleasure craft are permitted to pass through it to use the lock, subject to strict access regulations. A ‘Biber’ crew could, for instance, verify here whether a boat is actually heading for the lock and is lawfully within the security zone. However, such a check is distinct from the standard pleasure craft inspections carried out by the water police.

Also intended for water rescue

For Neustadt, the Navy explicitly cites not only security duties but also rescue at sea. The stern slide assists in rescuing people from the water. Research is still being carried out to determine how well the ‘Biber’ vessels perform in this role in day-to-day operations.

The naval publication does not provide details on range or permissible sea state. The Biber-class vessels are described as a supplement for harbour and coastal operations, not as a replacement for larger patrol boats.

Have you ever been approached or checked by the navy whilst sailing, and in what circumstances?