The 105 metre long special ship was built by Western Baltija Shipbuilding, a subcontractor of Abeking & Rasmussen in Lemwerder, Lower Saxony. As with the type ship, the "Scharhörn", which was launched in Lithuania in July 2023, the final outfitting of the "Mellum" will also take place at A&R's main site in Germany.
Initially, however, the specialised ship will have to be towed across the Baltic Sea and through the Kiel Canal without its own engine. Later, the "Mellum" will reach a speed of 15 knots with an LNG drive from Rolls-Royce and a load of 145 tonnes when pulling bollards.
Wide range of tasks for the coastguard's new "Mellum"
The operational tasks will be diverse: from emergency towing and laying buoys to fighting fires and accidents involving oil and pollutant spills. The "Mellum" has a crew of 15 for this purpose. An additional 34 people can be embarked depending on the purpose of the operation.
After delivery by the shipyard, which is currently scheduled for 2025, the "Mellum", like all multi-purpose vessels from the Shipping centre of the Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) in Cuxhaven and will primarily be deployed in the North Sea. The final third ship in the class, the "Neuwerk", is expected to follow a year later. It is currently also under construction in Klaipėda.
The new construction is around 25 metres longer and five metres wider than its predecessor from 1984, which is still in service, and is significantly more powerful overall. In addition, unlike conventional diesel engines, the liquefied natural gas drive ensures more environmentally friendly operation.
