In April 2025, the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) commissioned the construction of a prototype for a new class of sea rescue boat:
Generation change among sea rescuers
The background to this is the upcoming generational change in the DGzRS rescue units: the 9.5 and 10.1 metre boats previously deployed at many volunteer stations were mainly put into service between 1999 and 2002. In the coming years, they will reach 30 years of service, at which point the units will be replaced as planned. With the new construction, the DGzRS is pursuing the goal of significantly increasing the performance of its smaller rescue units - in terms of speed, sea behaviour, working conditions for the crew and technical equipment. The feedback from the volunteer crews was the basis for improvements in the planning.
SRB 90: More length, more power, more safety
The prototype bears the internal designation "SRB 90". The new rescue unit will be 12.75 metres long and reach a speed of at least 32 knots with its twin-jet propulsion system. It is to be delivered to the DGzRS in the course of this year and will undergo extensive testing before its final deployment.
The biggest difference to its predecessor is that the fuselage is no longer made of aluminium, but of a modern fibre composite construction made of glass and carbon fibres (GRP/CFRP). This should ensure high strength at a comparatively low weight. A fully elastically mounted deckhouse reduces vibrations and shocks, and spring-mounted seats are also used - an important aspect for operations in heavy seas. The equipment also includes modern navigation and communication systems as well as a generously designed rescue platform at the stern. Dual water jet drives also improve manoeuvrability in all conditions. A positioning system is designed to automatically hold the new rescue boat in place.
Current construction progress: "Fitting" successful
The current Shipyard diary of the DGzRS shows that the prototype has now reached a decisive stage: The hull and deckhouse have been successfully joined together on a trial basis. Following the successful "fitting", the rest of the construction work is now being carried out separately. Tanks will be fitted, electrics installed and the panes of special safety glass inserted. The components are manufactured using computer-controlled milling machines and a vacuum infusion process. In this process, the fibre layers are impregnated with epoxy resin under negative pressure, resulting in a particularly homogeneous and resilient structure. This construction method is considered state of the art in modern specialised shipbuilding. Another advantage is that the new boats are cheaper to build and maintain. Maintenance is also easier than with the previous boats.
Tradition in the hull: the lucky coin
In addition to all the high-tech, a maritime custom was also cultivated: A historic 20-mark gold coin from 1895 was anchored in the hull of the new building. The coin was donated by a couple who significantly supported the construction of the boat. Such coin placements have a long tradition in shipbuilding and are intended to bring luck and protection to the ship and its crew - a symbolic act that combines technology and seafaring tradition.
On the test bench
Before the SRB can go into series production, a capsize test is planned in the coming months - as is mandatory for all sea rescue units. This will test whether the boat can right itself after capsizing. An extended test phase is then planned at various stations in the North and Baltic Seas. Only after successful tests will a decision be made on the construction of a series. Like all DGzRS units, the SRB 90 is financed exclusively by voluntary donations. The organisation does not receive any state funding. The new construction is therefore an example of the continuous modernisation of the rescue fleet, which is supported by private donors. The SRB 90 may be the future standard for smaller, flexibly deployable sea rescue units on German coasts.
Jill Grigoleit
Editor Travel
