A topic that goes through time ... Today a commentary by marineforum editor-in-chief Holger Schlüter on the visit of the British aircraft carrier in Hamburg and why Germany still does not have its own aircraft carrier.

It comes back every year - the discussion about a German aircraft carrier! Has Germany's security situation and its importance in the world changed to such an extent that a national carrier capability is necessary? Why should Germany invest a lot of money and effort - it takes around 20 years to fully develop a carrier capability - in a capability that is already available in Europe?

Listen to NDR report

Article from May 2012:

Incidentally, it is quite revealing that in such discussions there is usually talk of only one German carrier as if the supporters already realised that there was no money for more than one ship. Prestige and reputation are not arguments, by the way.

Aircraft carrier eats fleet

Not only the construction of a Aircraft carrier costs an enormous amount of money, the mere operation of which tears deep holes in the defender's coffers - our European neighbours can tell you a thing or two about it. The ship itself is not enough, aircraft and weapon systems have to be procured and pilots have to be trained, and this has to continue for decades. The current procurement of the F-35C, the carrier version of the F-35 Lightning II, by the Royal Navy is causing the British an enormous headache. Operating a carrier comes at the expense of other platforms and capabilities: Carrier eats fleet!

These circumstances have meant that France and the UK have, until not so long ago, been seriously considering the possibility of Aircraft carrier to procure and operate jointly. These considerations have since been shelved, ultimately because the foreign and security policy objectives of both countries occasionally diverge. National interests therefore stand in the way of such cooperation - for now!

The European solution

The fact that security with aspiration is the Aircraft carriers and support groups should be clear. Since European interests are indeed global, there is also a need for a carrier capability in European hands. Even if the European mills grind more slowly than some would like and we are still a long way from a truly European understanding of security, something will happen and the integration of the European armed forces will be one of the catalysts.

Pooling & Sharing was not just a topic at the NATO conference in Chicago; in view of the tight European and British budget situation, it has become a necessity. The budgetary pressure will unleash unimagined creativity! Consider that France and the UK, unlike Germany, have not yet made the necessary adjustments to their armed forces to reflect the reality of their budgets (!).

European consolidation will therefore come from this direction, and Germany could contribute in various ways:

• Why not German aircraft on American, British or French carriers, depending on the situation and mission? The Eurofighter is also available as a carrier version!
• Aircraft carrier are always accompanied, Germany could concentrate on providing the escort ships.
• In any case, Germany could contribute to the costs, as we are getting used to it at other construction sites. But it is also true that those who pay, also decide!

Instead of Germany laboriously acquiring a new capability for itself, existing European structures should be utilised sensibly. This would enable Germany to make an essential contribution together with our European and alliance partners.

Germany does not need Aircraft carrier! What we need is a true European understanding of security that recognises the need for European Aircraft carriers then derives by itself. And of course Germany could and should make a contribution here!

Post Scriptum

Incidentally, the Federal Republic of Germany already had a carrier: it was called "Schleswig-Holstein", was largely stationary and, with around 120 aircraft on two runways in Eggebek and Jagel, was very powerful! Back then, naval warfare was still practised and practised from the air. A small insertion for the Luftwaffe: naval warfare from the air is more than just flying over water! But that's another story.

Der Beitrag Warum es keinen deutschen Flugzeugträger geben wird erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

Launch Sea Sparrow from VLS on frigate M-Class. Photo: cavdkm.nl

While the official announcement does not go into the causes, the error is said to have occurred during a test firing of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile system when it was not ejected from the canister during launch. The incident is said to have occurred during practice firing with a simulated drone approach. After the Sea Sparrow misfired, the "simulated" drone could no longer be successfully countered by the other defence systems.

If this information is correct, then the fault that has occurred and its consequences belong more to the "not so quickly rectifiable" category, even if the vertically mounted launch container (VLS) emits the booster jet on the side deck athwartships (see photo).

The "Louise-Marie" is one of two frigates of the Dutch Karel Doorman class, which only entered service with the Royal Belgian Navy in 2007/08 after almost 20 years under the Dutch flag. The ship is 124 metres long and displaces 3,400 tonnes. In addition to the 16 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow launchers (on the port side of the helicopter hangar), her armament includes a further 8 Harpoon ship-to-ship missiles, Mark 46 torpedoes, a Goalkeeper CIWS system, a 76 mm OTO Melara gun and other light artillery weapons. Its flying component consists of an NH-90 NFH helicopter.

Dutch frigate "Van Speijk" fires ESSM Sea Sparrow.
Photo: Royal Netherlands Navy

The incident has prompted the international media to comment with suspicion on what is now the third defence failure by European navies when deploying missile systems. The Danish frigate "Iver Huitfeldt" and the German frigate "Hessen" are of course repeatedly cited on the rocky road to "war capability at sea". "Do not despair - dare to go on . . . " the rest of the text is well known to seafarers!

Source: belga, marineschepen.nl,

Der Beitrag ASPIDES: Teilnahme belgischer Fregatte verzögert sich erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

It is a truism that everything is connected to everything else: The modern global economy cannot do without maritime transport routes, energy production and supply are often dependent on free access to the seas, which is therefore one of the most important security policy issues in international politics. The current commentary "Between fine words and reasons of state" in the marineforum online points out the importance and interlinking of various maritime topics for Germany as well:

Obviously, the German government does not take its political signals towards the USA very seriously - but it does towards China. In connection with the planned voyage of a German frigate to the Indo-Pacific region, Federal Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer in an interview with Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland in favour of maintaining free trade routes. "We are not just talking about the freedom of sea routes, which is being jeopardised by China, but we are also prepared to do something about it." He continued: "I want us to do more than just make fine words, we really want to do something." [...] However, Germany will not be present in the Taiwan Strait, precisely where freedom of navigation is most disputed by China. As early as 30 March 2021, State Secretary Peter Deaf in response to a question by Ulrich Lechte (FDP): "A voyage through the Taiwan Strait is not planned as part of the frigate Bayern's Indo-Pacific Deployment 2021."

The German government therefore seemed to have decided early on not to antagonise Beijing. In view of the reported course of the telephone conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Angela Merkel on 7 April is no surprise. The Middle Kingdom links development opportunities as well as market and trade opportunities to good behaviour. Berlin is aligning itself with the EU's line, which wavers between inclusion, cooperation and well-dosed criticism. At the same time, Brussels is seeking proximity to like-minded partners such as Japan and Australia.

How sensitive are our parties to maritime issues? We want to start the series with the offer of the Free Democrats (FDP), followed by the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU). Last but not least, at the beginning of September we want to analyse the main topics of the parties in the Wahl-O-Matpublished by the Federal Agency for Civic Education and intended as a comparative information service, under the maritime microscope. As in the past, we do not expect the editorial team to recommend any particular publication, nor do we wish to pass judgement on the quality of the content at this point. Rather, we would like to provide our readership with an initial overview of the weighting and awareness of maritime issues in the broadest sense among the parties and thus encourage further debate and discussion. The following terms (and their variations) are taken into account in the analysis: Navy, Bundeswehr, shipyard, ships, maritime, offshore, water, sea, ocean, trade, logistics, waterways, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Pacific. As always, the parties themselves are responsible for the content and readability of their programmes!

The Free Democrats (FDP) were last part of a coalition government from 2009 to 2013 (Merkel II cabinet), where they were in charge of the Foreign Affairs, Justice, Economics and Technology, Health and Economic Cooperation and Development ministries. From the Free Democrats' election programme for the 2021 Bundestag elections (Excerpt in the order of the programme):

Reform the WTO - strengthen free trade
We Free Democrats want to maintain the tried and tested framework of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). develop further. The reform process must be transparent and inclusive. We reject national solo efforts and arbitrary tariffs as well as new non-tariff trade barriers. We are committed to resolving the blockade of WTO dispute settlement as quickly as possible. This also requires a new comprehensive round of negotiations in which a balance of interests between industrialised, emerging and developing countries is achieved. This round of negotiations must also include an evaluation of where WTO rules have not yet been effective in practice. We want subsidies and dumping to be combated wherever these practices hinder fair competition. Currently, this applies in particular to the construction of means of transport such as trains, aeroplanes and ships.

Establishment of a transatlantic economic area
We Free Democrats want to achieve a new attempt at a comprehensive transatlantic free trade agreement and a transatlantic economic area. The EU free trade agreement with Canada (CETA), which was concluded in 2017 and should finally be ratified by Germany, can provide a blueprint. We also want to swiftly finalise and ratify the EU free trade agreement with Mercosur.

Involvement of extracurricular players & initiatives
We Free Democrats are calling for quality criteria and guidelines for cooperation between schools and extracurricular initiatives. Committed scientists and experts of all ages can tell pupils about their work in a way that is close to their everyday lives, invite them to try it out and explain the significance of their research for society. This allows pupils to gain new perspectives regardless of their parental background. We reject civil clauses or the blanket exclusion of companies, political parties and the Bundeswehr in the education sector.

Use seaports & inland waterways
We Free Democrats want to actively promote our harbours, shipping and thus the maritime economy in order to make them fit for the future. The aim is to realise both the great economic and ecological potential. After all, sea and inland ports will play an increasingly important role in the future. After all, shipping is already the most environmentally friendly mode of freight transport in terms of distance travelled and volume transported. As the development of infrastructure is one of the core tasks of the state and makes a decisive contribution to the resilience and success of the German economy, we are endeavouring to strengthen the sea and inland ports. We want to achieve this through good competitive conditions in Europe so that we can keep pace with ports from Rotterdam to Piraeus - by further upgrading the waterways, better interlinking the inland and coastal waterway network and expanding hinterland connections. This will require better co-operation between the federal and state governments in the future, and not only in the area of water depth maintenance. However, ports and shipping will not only become increasingly important in logistics, but will also play a decisive role in the energy supply of the future. Here, we must also set the right course at an early stage so that maritime transport routes can make their contribution. Overall, the industry needs more attention because maritime shipping is of enormous strategic importance for us as an export nation. It secures many jobs and prosperity beyond the borders of its sector.

 Connecting Europe better - expanding transport networks
We Free Democrats are calling for a holistic infrastructure strategy for Europe and the expansion of trans-European transport networks. This includes a well-developed (high-speed) rail network as well as high-performance port facilities, airports and motorways. The aim is to link European metropolises and transhipment points even more closely.

Environmental protection
Just as important as forests on land are the algae forests, seagrass meadows and phytoplankton in the oceans for storing carbon from the atmosphere and providing oxygen. Healthy marine flora therefore not only makes an important contribution to the health of the ocean ecosystem, but also to sustainable climate protection. This is why we need to protect marine flora in particular.

Clean water
We want to ensure that our groundwater resources are managed carefully and remain clean. We are also committed to wetland biotopes and intact bodies of water because they are important for the municipal water supply, our health and biodiversity. This is why inputs, for example residues from agriculture, industry, mining and medicines, must always be reduced where there is a risk. The polluter pays principle applies.

Marine protection as a task for the future
We Free Democrats want to expand marine research and are in favour of a sustainable marine policy that reconciles economic use, environmental protection and safety. Germany must expand its pioneering role internationally. We therefore want to work at European and international level to expand the protection of the Arctic. For us, marine policy is a task for the future. The sea not only supplies oxygen, resources and energy, but is also an important climate regulator. The consequences of climate change and overfishing as well as marine pollution (including plastic waste, chemicals, several million tonnes of munitions, other warfare agents and waste oil) and piracy pose a threat to the world's largest habitat. Together with European partners, the pollutants are to be recovered or rendered harmless in a timely manner. To remedy the situation, existing concepts must be resolutely implemented and innovative solutions developed. Tackling these challenges decisively not only creates an environment worth living in, but also harbours tangible economic potential for our coastal regions - for example by attracting innovative companies from the maritime sector.

Aim for open strategic sovereignty of the EU
We Free Democrats support the European Union's goal of achieving greater strategic sovereignty. For us, this means first and foremost the ability to act independently. Equipped with the necessary means, the EU could better assert its own interests and values in the future and become less dependent and vulnerable in important areas such as energy supply, raw material imports and digital technology. The EU must use its own strengths more strategically in trade and development policy and develop its own military capabilities in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). This does not contradict the transatlantic partnership and NATO, but rather increases the EU's weight in contributing to the liberal world order as an equal partner. However, the desire for strategic sovereignty must not lead to protectionism or self-isolation.

In favour of a European army
We Free Democrats want to build a European army under joint supreme command and parliamentary control. To this end, we are striving for the gradual closer integration and expansion of joint capabilities of the armed forces of EU member states willing to integrate. The aim is to create a European Defence Union as an intermediate step towards a future European army. To this end, we want to accelerate the current expansion of the European Defence Union. European command structures and a joint military headquarters, as well as training facilities such as a European Security Academy, must be created. We want to intensify exchanges between the European armed forces through an Erasmus+ programme for soldiers of all ranks. In all these steps, we are taking care to further strengthen interoperability with NATO forces and instruments.

 In favour of a common & innovative EU external energy policy
We Free Democrats want a common EU external energy policy. The aim is to enable the EU to diversify its energy sources and reduce its dependence on individual suppliers. [...] Our cooperation with Russia should also focus on renewable energies, hydrogen and synthetic fuels. The EU member states will continue to be dependent on energy imports in order to guarantee continuous security of supply. In view of this dependence, energy policy is always also foreign and security policy. A common stance among EU member states with regard to external sources of supply is therefore essential.

In favour of a unified German foreign, security and development policy
We Free Democrats call for a unified German foreign, security and development policy. Germany must strategically and institutionally harmonise its international activities in order to be able to respond to complex global challenges and assume more responsibility in the world. We therefore want Germany to implement the networked approach in its international action to a greater extent than before. To this end, we want to adapt the security policy decision-making structures and create the financial prerequisites. External and internal security threats are increasingly interlinked. We are therefore calling for the establishment of a National Security Council, which will make it possible to plan, decide and act more quickly and with greater foresight when faced with international challenges. Furthermore, Germany needs an overall political strategy that defines the goals and priorities of our foreign, defence and development policy. We Free Democrats also want Germany to invest three percent of its gross domestic product in international security ("3D - defence, development and diplomacy") as part of a networked approach, thereby fulfilling the commitments it has made in NATO, consolidating its development policy and strengthening its diplomacy.

Clear commitment to NATO
We Free Democrats are fully committed to NATO. Because NATO is a unrivalled success of the security alliance. It should continue to act as a guarantor for our security. We fully support the key decisions taken by the Alliance in Wales and Warsaw: strengthening NATO's deterrence and defence capabilities through financial resources, capabilities and contributions, accompanied by dialogue with Russia. In addition, we want to further develop the Alliance strategically and support the process of developing a new Strategic Concept. For us, this includes a clear strategy for dealing with the People's Republic of China as well as NATO's cooperation and collaboration with democratic partner states in the Indo-Pacific region.

 Modernisation of the Bundeswehr - better equipment
We Free Democrats want to increase the operational readiness of the Bundeswehr and pursue a clear modernisation course to achieve this. Some of the armed forces' weapons systems are outdated or only partially operational. Important procurement projects are delayed or do not materialise at all and the maintenance of existing equipment is neglected. This must change. We want the training and equipment of our soldiers to be harmonised with the Bundeswehr's missions. For this reason, the trend reversals initiated to date must also be reviewed and the modernisation process of the Bundeswehr must be financially secured in the long term.

New impetus for arms control & disarmament
We Free Democrats are committed to the long-term goal of a world free of nuclear weapons and are committed to overcoming the ongoing crisis of nuclear disarmament and arms control. Against the backdrop of a changing security environment, the existing structures of nuclear arms control are disintegrating. At the same time, the threat posed by nuclear weapons in international politics is increasing again. We therefore want Germany and Europe to be strong driving forces in renewing and rethinking the instruments of disarmament and arms control for the 21st century. We are convinced that we can only prevent new spirals of nuclear armament in the long term if we succeed in bringing nuclear weapons states such as China to the negotiating table alongside the nuclear powers USA and Russia. Arms control agreements for so-called "cyber weapons", the new weapons of mass destruction in the information age, and the "hypersonic glide vehicles" with nuclear warheads that can reach and destroy any place in the world within an hour, must be negotiated urgently. This is a question of humanity's survival.

Renewing transatlantic partnerships
We Free Democrats are convinced transatlanticists and are committed to German-American friendship. The election of Joe Biden as US President offers a great opportunity to renew transatlantic relations for the coming decade. We want Germany and the EU to seize this opportunity. To this end, we Free Democrats want to intensify the dialogue with the United States at all levels, deepen transatlantic trade relations towards a transatlantic economic area and quickly renegotiate the EU-US Privacy Shield in order to find a legally secure solution for transatlantic data traffic. We also want to strengthen Europe's ability to act and the cohesion of NATO, thereby helping to put the special relationship between Europe and the US on a footing that takes account of the current geopolitical upheavals. The same applies to comprehensive relations with NATO partner Canada, where we want to adopt the EU-Canada trade agreement CETA, which has still not been ratified by the Grand Coalition, as quickly as possible.

 Expand Frontex for external border & sea rescue
We Free Democrats are calling for the EU border protection agency Frontex to be expanded more quickly to the planned staffing level of 10,000 officers - accompanied by a structural reform and an expansion of control and transparency mechanisms. Germany must play a greater role in this. An area without internal borders requires strong protection of the external borders. In many cases, the member states can no longer do this alone. A strong European border management agency that supports them in this is therefore in the interest of all member states and in particular in Germany's interest. Frontex should also take over sea rescue in order to finally put an end to the cruel deaths in the Mediterranean. This is a state task. As long as this is not guaranteed, private organisations that take on this task must not be hindered. The "pushbacks" carried out with the involvement of Frontex, i.e. the illegal pushing back of migrants, must be taken very seriously. We are committed to investigating such incidents and in favour of stricter mechanisms to prevent human rights violations. In this way, we are strengthening European border protection, improving sea rescue and ensuring that human rights are respected at the EU's external borders.

More speed with hydrogen
We Free Democrats want to establish hydrogen and synthetic fuels as the second pillar of the future energy system alongside electricity and drive forward the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy as quickly as possible. CO2-neutral hydrogen and synthetic fuels can replace fossil fuels in industry, power cars, ships and aeroplanes or heat buildings. [...] In order to ensure the production of energy sources at reasonable costs, investments must be made in plants worldwide. Photovoltaic or wind power plants at suitable locations in conjunction with connected infrastructure for the production of energy sources that are easy to store and transport can make a major contribution to this.

Adapting agriculture to drought
We Free Democrats want to make it easier for agriculture and forestry to adapt to climate change. To this end, we are focussing on helping people to help themselves. We want to enable agricultural and forestry businesses to make better provision for droughts and other consequences of climate change in good years with tax-exempt risk equalisation reserves. This will make them less dependent on state emergency programmes. We also want a paradigm shift in hydraulic engineering to ensure that sufficient water supplies are available for plant growth in the future. To this end, we will develop a National Action Plan for Water and Water Management.

Ensuring the sustainable utilisation of fish stocks
We Free Democrats want to consistently orientate all fisheries towards the principles of sustainable development. Environmental compatibility, social justice and economic stability must be given absolutely equal priority. Only in this way can fishing continue to play its important role in feeding the world in the future. To this end, we want to restrict bottom trawling and adapt fishing techniques to specific species, for example by increasing the mesh size of fishing nets. Bycatch should be counted towards fishing quotas. The successes of European fisheries policy in this area must be safeguarded. We also want to strengthen the competitiveness of our fishermen and aquaculture producers in international competition in the interests of consumers. We also rely on cooperative measures to monitor legal regulations, which are always based on scientific findings and must be further developed. However, control measures such as mandatory camera surveillance, which place an industry under general suspicion, are not compatible with our liberal stance. We are also emphatically in favour of the "multi-use approach" for offshore wind farms, so that fishing will also be possible in "offshore wind farms" in the future.

Note: The search terms "German Navy", "North Sea" and "Baltic Sea" as well as "shipyard" did not return any hits in the election programme of the Free Democrats (FDP) for the 2021 Bundestag elections.

Der Beitrag Maritimer Faktencheck zur Bundestagswahl 2021 - Parteiprogramm der Freie Demokraten (FDP) erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

The year 2021 continues to promise excitement: in the second year of a global pandemic, there are signs of noticeable change and transformation in the political firmament of the republic in view of the upcoming federal elections in September.

It is understandable that Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and the Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg) are endeavouring to implement as many of the planned military procurement projects under one roof: A total of €31.25 million in templates - if a Defence projects If the price exceeds this threshold, it must be submitted separately to the parliamentary Budget Committee - is to be confirmed by the members of both the Budget and Defence Committees in the last two weeks of the parliamentary session before the summer break (23rd & 25th calendar week). These include eleven Procurement project with relevance for the German Navy, more than half of which are not funded within the current budget planning. We read from a current issue of the griephan letters industry service the following timetable:

For the 23rd calendar week:

• Measuring boats Sea trials coast (financing not secured)
• P-3 C Successor interim solution (P-8A Poseidon - financing not secured)
• RBS 15 maritime homing missile

For the 25th calendar week:

• Replacement procurement of tactical radars for class F 123 frigate
• Obsolescence & capability enhancement SMART-L radar frigate class 124
• Regeneration of nautical guidance radar (RadEA)
• Procurement of Naval Strike Missile NSM guided missile (financing not secured)
• Development & procurement of two Class 212 CD submarines (financing not secured)
• Procurement of two class 707 naval fuel supply vessels (financing not secured)
• Procurement of three Class 424 fleet service boats (financing not secured)

The "Class 332 C minehunter" project was announced by the BMVg for the 20th calendar week, but was not presented to MPs in a timely manner. It remains to be seen whether the project will be submitted in the remaining weeks of the session. The sheer volume of projects represents a technical challenge for parliamentary operations. The MPs from the coalition parties also recognise this and have called on the Minister to submit a detailed financing plan for all the projects concerned in a timely manner. That in itself is a remarkable and, at least in recent history, unique process!

Options
Against the backdrop of a changing (security) political landscape, limited financial resources and the forecast of a sinking financial line, it is important to keep calm on the coast - an old experience from political Bonn and Berlin is: What floats, goes!

There is certainly a "coastal gang" in political Berlin across the political parties, which can be seen as a counterpart to the influence of the aerospace industry with its centre of gravity in southern Germany. In addition, the upcoming projects cannot be viewed in isolation and certainly not individually. Projects such as the procurement of two U-212 CD submarines as well as the Naval Strike Missile missile are under the auspices of German-Norwegian cooperation. Certain projects such as the Procurement of naval fuel suppliers, fleet service and measuring boats could be summarised in the financial planning as an aid package for the ailing shipyards, even outside of Section 14 (defence budget). In their letter to the Minister, the MPs have already made it clear that they are dissatisfied with the current funding process.

In this context, a watchful eye will be kept on the future of the naval shipbuilding industry. The development of the Project F 126 - formerly multi-purpose combat ship MKS 180 - A new dynamic is emerging in the relationship between the shipyards. What is to become of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is still up in the air. There may be various European partnership opportunities here. German-Norwegian co-operation goes beyond the U212 CD project. And what about German-Italian relations? In addition to the industrial-political dimension, we expect increasing co-operation between the European partners also in operations on the seas. Experienced observers of the Berlin procurement process are therefore relaxed about the parliamentary summer break and the changing of the guard in autumn with a view to the coast.

Der Beitrag Beschaffung für die Marine - Blick auf die Bundestagswahl 2021 erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

Germany's maritime supply industry (shipbuilding and offshore) is largely characterised by medium-sized companies. The industry not only produces in the coastal federal states, but also operates nationwide. Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, for example, are the leading German states in terms of maritime machinery and plant engineering, each accounting for 21 per cent of the sector's turnoverfollowed by Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia with 11 per cent each and Hamburg with 10 per cent. In addition, there is an extensive network of suppliers, tradespeople and service providers that are often more regionally focussed.

We also read in the 6th Report of the Federal Government on the Development and Future Prospects of the Maritime Industry in Germany (2019), edited by Norbert Brackmann (CDU), the German government's coordinator for the maritime industry:

Supplier industry
Suppliers contribute around 70 to 80 per cent of the value added in the construction of a ship. According to the German Engineering Federation (VDMA e. V.), around 400 companies with around 63,500 employees generated a total turnover of €10.6 billion in the German offshore and shipbuilding supply industry in 2017. The shipbuilding industry is the largest buyer of supplier products. In addition, direct deliveries to shipping companies have increased for several years in a row. Indirect deliveries via other suppliers (system or package suppliers) are also very important. The after-sales share of turnover averaged around 21 per cent in 2017.

While many German shipyards have full order books, the situation for the German supplier industry is divided, with an average decline in turnover of 4.4 per cent in 2017 compared to the previous year. It is true that 37 per cent of companies recorded growth in 2017, particularly suppliers of electrical and automation technology. On the other hand, 46 per cent of companies suffered a decline in turnover, particularly in the areas of drive technology, fluid technology and motors. Supplier companies that deliver high volumes for cruise ships in particular are benefiting from orders from European cruise shipyards. Suppliers that are heavily involved in target markets outside Europe, on the other hand, are suffering from the low number of new cargo ships being built worldwide and the price pressure that shipyards are passing on to their suppliers in the global shipbuilding market, which is distorted by overcapacity and a strong subsidisation policy.

[...] At the same time, the supplier industry is focusing more strongly on high-growth or promising market segments and developments in areas such as digitalisation, environmental technologies and efficiency improvements in the shipping and offshore industries. The regional breakdown of turnover in the maritime supply industry in 2017 by federal state is as follows Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg each accounted for 21 per cent, followed by North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein with eleven per cent each, Hamburg with ten per cent, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania six per cent, Lower Saxony and Bremen five per cent each and a total of ten per cent in the remaining eight federal states.

Source: Sixth Report of the Federal Government on the Development and Future Prospects of the Maritime Industry in Germany (2019)

The country for the coast
The digitalisation of society and industry, the development and production of modern engines and new drives are therefore of fundamental importance for the maritime economy in Germany as a whole. How are the parties positioning themselves in the election campaign for the state parliament; does the maritime sector feature at all in the election campaign of a landlocked country or is it hidden under general statements?

So it's high time to take a closer look at the election programmes. Here is a selection of the passages from the parties already represented in the Baden-Württemberg state parliament that caught our eye - so that everyone can form their own judgement (the parties are responsible for the readability and subsequent implementation of their election promises):

Election programme of Alliance 90/The Greens

Freight transport
For an export-orientated state like Baden-Württemberg, freight transport is of extraordinary economic importance. Forecasts predict that this will continue to grow strongly in the future. Unfortunately, rail and inland waterway transport have hardly been able to benefit from this in the past. This will continue to have an increasing impact on the climate in the future. We want to stop this fatal trend and modernise freight transport. By 2030, every third tonne should be transported in a climate-friendly way: by rail, inland waterway, e-truck or renewable fuel.

[...] We will work vehemently to shift freight transport from road to rail and waterways. We want to vigorously implement the ambitious proposals in the Ministry of Transport's report on shifting freight transport to rail and waterways.

Economy & Labour
We are making Baden-Württemberg a showcase region for green hydrogen. It will be irreplaceable in many areas of industry in the future. We will have to use green hydrogen in steel production, in the chemical industry, for air and sea transport and in heavy goods transport. The renewable energy required for this exceeds our current electricity production many times over. This is also an opportunity for Baden-Württemberg. The technology for the production and use of green hydrogen offers our plant and mechanical engineering companies a lucrative new field of business, which we will support them in developing.

 Green tech & circular economy
We are making Baden-Württemberg a showcase region for green hydrogen. It will be irreplaceable in many areas in the future. We will have to use green hydrogen in steel production, in the chemical industry, for air and sea transport and in heavy goods transport. The renewable energy required for this exceeds our current electricity production many times over. This is also an opportunity for Baden-Württemberg. The technology for the production and use of green hydrogen offers our plant and mechanical engineering companies a lucrative new field of business, which we will support them in developing.

Digitalisation & AI
Digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing our entire economy. The machine is being fundamentally changed. For us as a country of mechanical engineering, this is a great opportunity, but it also brings with it a major upheaval: software is becoming a decisive factor, even in our core industries. We want to shape this upheaval in a humane way and avoid problematic side effects of digitalisation as far as possible.

[...] We were the first state government to launch a comprehensive digitalisation and AI strategy. Cyber Valley in Tübingen has become the leading research centre for artificial intelligence in Europe. We have set up an ethics advisory board to ensure that the ethical and social impact of AI is also taken into account here. We want to further expand Cyber Valley and make it the core of an ecosystem that connects companies, start-ups, research and development. We will build a broad bridge to SMEs so that they can benefit as much as possible from cutting-edge AI research made in Baden-Württemberg. We want to further strengthen Baden-Württemberg as an AI location. We are supporting numerous small and medium-sized companies in Baden-Württemberg with digitalisation through our digitalisation premium. Now we want to follow this up with an AI premium and AI consulting services. This should make it easier for AI-based solutions to find their way into everyday business life. We will also make public administration fit for the use of AI. To this end, we are examining the use of such applications - especially from the start-up sector - and implementing cross-departmental measures for the use of AI.

Source: www.gruene-bw.de (03.03.2021)

Government programme of the CDU

Hydrogen
Hydrogen is one of the key energy sources of the future. A climate-friendly economy and society will be essentially based on hydrogen and its downstream production. To achieve this, Baden-Württemberg must pull together with partners both nationally and internationally: In Baden-Württemberg, we have the research institutions that can make decisive contributions to the development of the hydrogen economy. But we also have the companies that can shape the hydrogen economy of the future, especially as producers and suppliers of machines and systems. To this end, we will continue to develop the hydrogen roadmap for Baden-Württemberg and add a hydrogen representative for the state in order to make the best possible use of the economic potential for our companies. We want to further develop the H2 Valley and win over local authorities, associations and companies for a pilot project to demonstrate what the future of hydrogen could look like in concrete terms. In the long term, we also need a hydrogen highway through the state to guarantee supply. Baden-Württemberg should become the market leader in hydrogen technology.

Ministry for Digitalisation
Digital technologies and applications are key drivers of fundamental change in all areas of life. Our aim as the CDU is to shape the digital transformation in a responsible and future-oriented manner, because for us, digitalisation is not an end in itself. The state must be able to absorb, evaluate and support the impetus coming from industry and research even faster and better. In order to do even greater justice to the increasing importance of the topic, it is urgently necessary to give the cross-cutting topic of digitalisation even more weight in the government with an independent voice in the next legislative period. In terms of content, we want to continue the success story of the Digitalisation Premium Plus: We will continue to support companies with up to 500 employees on their path to digitalisation.

Freight transport & airports
Commercial transport is dependent on an efficient transport infrastructure and modern logistics. We want to make freight transport more efficient and environmentally friendly and promote the shift from road to rail and waterways. To strengthen combined transport, we want to enable additional container terminal capacities - especially in the country's major conurbations

Source: www.cdu-bw.de (03.03.2021)

Election programme of the SPD

The SPD in Baden-Württemberg sees the transformation of our working world first and foremost as an opportunity for a sustainable economy and society, for future-proof and good work. We want to utilise this opportunity in the interests of the citizens of Baden-Württemberg. To do this, we must and want to actively shape change. For us, shaping change is a project for society as a whole:

• economic and structural policy,
• labour market policy,
• environmental and transport policy,
• science, innovation and education policy.

Skilled labour offensive
All economic sectors in Baden-Württemberg have an increased need for skilled labour. And conversely, the lack of qualified personnel is hampering growth in many areas. We want to prepare today's employees for the work of tomorrow. Employees should not only receive further training once they have lost their jobs, but while they are still employed. The extent of the economic consequences of the pandemic is still open. However, the economy is already characterised by uncertainty. There are already signs of job losses in certain sectors. Exports from Baden-Württemberg are going to many countries that have been hit harder by the crisis than we have. The coronavirus crisis is just one factor - albeit a very large one - in a working world in the midst of upheaval. Our response is to secure jobs and shape change.

Sustainable freight transport
We take road congestion, noise and climate protection seriously. That is why we want to transfer more goods from road to rail. We are consistently expanding the infrastructure for this. Baden-Württemberg's inland waterways for freight ships are to be better utilised and expanded.

Digital
We want a state-owned infrastructure company. It will develop publicly owned digital infrastructure, integrate municipal projects and attract private providers. In this way, state funds should be used to ensure that everyone has access to high-performance Internet and that investments remain in public hands. It is also important to us that the issues of broadband expansion and mobile communications are considered and dealt with together in a future state government.

Today, data is as important for economic success and social progress as ore, coal or machines were at the time of industrialisation. The state must set a good example and provide an initial spark to ensure that our society has access to large quantities of high-quality data. We want the state government to open up the treasure trove of data at all levels of administration, not only for the exchange of information between authorities, but also for research and business. Data may only be released in anonymised form.

Innovative research
Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most important fields of research of our time. It is already being used in many areas and is influencing, for example, the development of our media usage, the healthcare system and our working environment. We want to distribute AI research centres around universities and science clusters1 across the country and thus create the conditions for the establishment of further Cyber Valley regions, from which small and medium-sized enterprises in particular can benefit in terms of technology transfer. We must continue to drive forward AI research without losing sight of ethical and social aspects. Our aim is to strike a balance between the desire for technological leadership and the broad public debate on the benefits and dangers of artificial intelligence. We want to formulate an AI strategy with clear goals. We will promote and drive forward innovative regional clusters with the involvement of regional economic cycles. We see the following areas as priorities: sustainable mobility, environmental technology and resource efficiency, medical technology and life sciences, plant and mechanical engineering.

Source: www.spd-bw.de (03.03.2021)

State election programme of the FDP

Mobility
The automotive industry is currently undergoing a comprehensive structural change, as the mobility of the future will be much more diverse. Baden-Württemberg has outstanding potential in some areas of technology: in the further development of combustion engines, in battery-electric and hydrogen-based drives and in engines with synthetic fuels. This technology should not be neglected in the course of structural change in the automotive industry, not least because of the high depth of added value of hydrogen-based drive systems. Battery-electric mobility has not yet established itself. On its own, it does not offer any conclusive answers to the many unanswered questions regarding the impending effects on the labour market in Germany as an automotive location, the infrastructure and the ecological balance. The one-sided focus on electromobility to move transport away from fossil fuels is a misguided approach. The only way to achieve this goal is to be open to all technologies. That is why a far-reaching hydrogen strategy is a prerequisite for us to join the government. In order to achieve both the CO₂ reduction targets in transport and at the same time transform Baden-Württemberg's key industry, we Free Democrats are committed to a genuine openness to technology.

Freight Transport & Logistics
An efficient transport infrastructure is the backbone of a prospering economy. Efficient road, rail and waterway connections are an indispensable prerequisite for securing and developing our business locations. The resulting mobility is a prerequisite for the competitiveness of our regions and for the high quality of life of our citizens. Good transport connections are becoming increasingly important due to the growing global interdependence of markets. This will not change as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and its economic consequences. In addition, the transport industry itself is an important economic sector in its own right and makes a significant contribution to gross domestic product. In view of the economic importance of the transport industry as a fundamental basis of our prosperity, we will devote more attention to the interests of freight transport and logistics - also in terms of safety and crisis resilience. We will:

• further develop the network of terminals for combined transport. The expansion of freight distribution centres for transhipment from long-distance transport (road, rail, water) to distribution vehicles must be pursued with commitment.
• When planning large commercial settlements, give greater consideration to good links with rail transport and inland waterway transport.
• We will lobby the federal government vigorously for the swift renovation and prompt expansion of the lock facilities for 135-metre vessels on the Neckar up to Plochingen so that it can continue to be used as an efficient waterway in the future. An expansion that is not completed until after 2050 is not acceptable to us.

Economy & digital infrastructure
The digitalisation of the economy has a direct impact on Baden-Württemberg as a business location with its strong manufacturing industry. Data acquisition, data management, data evaluation and data monetisation are increasingly contributing to value creation. It is not only in the automotive and supplier industry that a major shift from hardware to software applications is taking place. Data acquisition, data storage and data analysis, from marketing to plant control (Industry 4.0), vehicle fleet operation or autonomous driving, are becoming increasingly important and decisive for competition. We believe it is necessary to develop both the digital infrastructure and our education system in the direction of IT and electronics expertise in order to positively shape the digital transformation for our country and compensate for the loss of traditional jobs in the manufacturing industry. We will:

• Establish a dedicated digitalisation ministry in which we build up and bundle expertise in order to be able to master the development of a digital administration and the challenges of a digital economy in a strategically sound and structured manner.
• Baden-Württemberg's interests in promoting digitalisation at federal and European level even more strongly.
• support digital innovation in companies, the use of artificial intelligence (AI), big data and new technologies and enable new business models with a broad range of open data.

 Source: https://wahl.fdpbw.de (03.03.2021)

State election programme of the AfD

Emphasise location advantages
The state must create an active settlement and retention management system for companies. Baden-Württemberg can be proud of its opportunities as a business location. We offer excellently qualified personnel and in some cases very open-minded municipalities that are committed to companies and also offer attractive living space for citizens. These advantages are utilised far too little; they must be better communicated and further developed. Baden-Württemberg must become known worldwide as a premium location so that more companies settle in our state and create jobs.

Expand Ministry of Economic Affairs
We are committed to strengthening the economy. This includes a Ministry of Economic Affairs that does justice to the strong economic power of Baden-Württemberg. Currently, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is the smallest ministry of all. We therefore want to merge the areas of energy, transport, digitalisation and tourism in the Ministry of Economic Affairs as part of a reduction in the number of ministries. Without a prospering economy, none of the other areas are viable. Tourism is one of the largest employers in Baden-Württemberg in terms of personnel and, alongside mechanical engineering and the automotive industry, is one of the main pillars of the state.

Ending the energy transition
A comprehensive and extremely inefficient hydrogen (H2) economy is being propagated as a way out of this dilemma and in order to also be able to run vehicles and heating systems on "renewables". On the one hand, there is not enough land available in Baden-Württemberg to install the necessary energy basis of wind power and solar energy, and on the other hand, the miserable efficiency levels in hydrogen production and its transport result in exorbitant costs. The next German special approach to a hydrogen economy therefore has no chance of success, but will destroy prosperity.

No parallel infrastructures
"Alternative drive systems" are not convincing in economic, technical or ecological terms. There is therefore no reason to subsidise them with state funds. There will only be an at least theoretical nationwide possibility of "alternative drive systems" if billions of taxpayers' money are spent on parallel infrastructures to the existing petrol station infrastructure. While petrol stations were created by the market economy, "e-mobility" must be promoted politically with taxpayers' money because there is no demand for it. The AfD strictly rejects subsidies and quota regulations aimed at forcing this transformation.

AI location Baden-Württemberg
We are calling for all AI expertise to be gathered in Germany and bundled around the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) out of national interest and the pursuit of digital sovereignty. This centre should also be located in Baden-Württemberg, where a high level of computer science expertise is already available at the KIT in Karlsruhe. Investments in the field of artificial intelligence have been neglected over the last 20 years. The head start of the GAFA companies is huge. Amazon and Google alone invested around $ 30 billion in research and development in 2017, while China plans to invest almost €150 billion in AI alone by 2030. If you want to keep up with this, small-scale thinking doesn't stand a chance. Baden-Württemberg should make a strong contribution to our national endeavours in the field of AI.

Source: https://afd-bw.de (03.03.2021)

Spoilt for choice
On Sunday, 14 March 2021, the citizens of Baden-Württemberg can decide which party they want to vote for.

Der Beitrag Maritimer Faktencheck – Landtagswahl Baden-Württemberg 2021 erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

Liquefied natural gas propulsion is a step forward in container shipping, both technologically and ecologically. In addition to greater energy efficiency, the use of LNG also reduces local emissions. Compared to conventional oil-based propulsion fuels, 20 per cent less carbon dioxide (CO₂), 99 per cent less sulphur dioxide (SO_x) and soot particles and up to 85 per cent less nitrogen oxides (NO_x) are emitted. Noise emissions are also significantly reduced. Nevertheless, this technology has also been criticised: the production and storage of LNG is very energy-intensive and also highly controversial in terms of its environmental impact.

Text: Eurogate/Steffen Leuthold

Der Beitrag #meerverstehen: Container-Jumbos mit LNG-Antrieb in Hamburg erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

With the ceremonial commissioning of the task force provider (EGV) BONN on 13 September 2013 in Wilhelmshaven, the third EGV was handed over to the German Navy - externally similar to the first two sister ships BERLIN and FRANKFURT AM MAIN, but technically a clear innovation. A concept that has been tried and tested in service, further developed through technical progress, coupled with an economically optimised design and a consistent focus on the future tasks of the Bundeswehr and the German Navy - these are the characteristics of the new BONN task force supply vessel.

Task force provider

Task force provider provide logistical and medical support for mixed task forces at sea. Equipment, capabilities and crews ensure the comprehensive supply of fuel, fresh water, food, ammunition and supplies worldwide, around the clock and completely self-sufficient. This provides sustainable support for sustained participation in long-term global conflict and crisis management operations - in figures: One Task force provider extends the operational capability of a convoy consisting of four frigates from 21 to 45 days.

9,000 m³ of marine diesel, over 600 m³ of aviation fuel, 260 tonnes of ammunition, 125 tonnes of refrigerated and frozen goods and 100 tonnes of provisions can be transported - a huge "warehouse of materials and goods" is available worldwide thanks to the EGV. The fuels and goods can be transferred at any time on the high seas via two RAS stations (Replenishment at Sea), even simultaneously if required. Furthermore, 78 containers can be transported and delivered alongside using the two 24-tonne lifting cranes, independent of any port infrastructure.

In addition to the comprehensive logistical services, the EGV is characterised in particular by the medical care options available at the EGV. BONN have been significantly expanded again compared to the first two ships. There are now two treatment rooms and two sickrooms as well as a medical facility with 24 hospital beds on board the ship. In addition, a containerised Marine Emergency Rescue Centre (MERZ) with two operating theatres, a dental unit and a medical laboratory can be accommodated and operated. Such a high-quality "hospital at sea", combined with highly qualified medical personnel, guarantees optimum medical care at all times during operations.

With a speed of well over 20 knots at the EGV BONN and its comprehensive communication and command and control capabilities, the EGV is an integral part of a task force. Maritime surveillance, search, boarding and rescue missions as well as personnel and material transport over long distances are made possible by the operation of two Sea King MK 41 helicopters. In addition to the refuelling facilities for helicopters, the spacious helicopter hangar offers sufficient space and equipment for their maintenance and repair work. Safe helicopter guidance is ensured by a new helicopter guidance radar system, which will also be retrofitted on the first two ships.

Innovations at the 3rd EGV BONN (Image/graphic: PIZ Marine, BAAINBw)

Innovation

If you boil it down to a common denominator, the Task force provider multifunctional ships that have proven themselves time and again in a variety of applications and in a constantly changing requirements profile.

It is therefore not surprising that in mid-2013, the Canadian government decided in favour of EGV for the realisation of its two future joint support ships following an extensive selection process. The decisive factor for the award of the contract was that the concept of the German Task force supplier in terms of operational capabilities, operating costs and deployability.

Against the background of the German Navy's worldwide deployments with changing tasks, the increasing need for such multifunctional ships is becoming extremely clear. The fact that the design of the EGV as a multifunctional ship has proven itself and demonstrated its versatility is particularly evident when one considers that the ship design is based on the Military, Tactical and Economic Requirement (MTWF) from 1996. The fact that in a range of applications that has changed since then, the Task force provider The many successful deployments of the first two EGVs since their commissioning in 2001 and 2002 underline the fact that they have proven their worth. The reality of deployment clearly shows the change in requirements. The EGVs - originally conceived as an integral part of a task force - are increasingly being deployed as "lone wolves". The successful humanitarian aid provided by the EGV BERLIN after the tsunami disaster in South-East Asia has shown that such tasks can also be performed by the EGV. At the same time, however, single-operator missions require increased helicopter command and control capabilities, which are now provided by the helicopter guidance radar system. Another example of the changed operating conditions is the increasing duration of operations in tropical waters. When building the third EGV, this situation was taken into account by increasing the available cooling capacity, among other things. However, it is not only changing operational requirements that call for innovative solutions. The need for ever more economical operation, increasing environmental protection requirements, rising safety standards and, last but not least, the need to increase the attractiveness of operations in order to attract new personnel make innovations unavoidable. Engineering solutions, tailored to the needs of the Bundeswehr, were the basis for further development into the Task force provider BONN.

Technology

The fact that a proven concept can be adapted to changing requirements through technical progress led to significant changes, additions and optimisations in the areas of hull, propulsion, power generation, accommodation, rescue equipment, damage control, self-protection, command and control capability and technical documentation in the third EGV.

EGV in figures (Graphic: BAAINBw)

A selection of technological changes in the third EGV is intended to illustrate the variety of innovations that, taken together, represent the significant progress and potential of the EGV. BONN should show:

• When designing the hull, the current regulations of the ship classification society Germanischer Lloyd (GL) stipulate stricter design criteria. The implementation of these requirements leads to the EGV BONN to an increased load-bearing capacity of the ship's hull against sea impact.
• In order to better adapt the drive system to the EGV's driving profile with frequent load changes and a high proportion of light loads, the drive system, including the entire drivetrain, was completely redesigned. The two selected high-speed MTU 20-cylinder 20V 8000 M71R diesel engines with electronic common-rail injection, four turbochargers, an intercooler and cylinder deactivation each provide 7.2 MW, which is 35 per cent more drive power than the first batch. This not only significantly exceeds the required maximum sustained speed of 20 knots. Due to the favourable torque characteristics of the propulsion diesels, the controllable pitch propellers can already be operated at low speeds in the design pitch, which not only almost completely avoids vibrations, but in particular allows the propulsion system to be operated at its best efficiency.
• Five identical MTU 8V4000 M50B eight-cylinder diesel engines (also with electronic common-rail injection, turbocharger and intercooler) are used for power generation in combination with synchronous generators, each with a continuous electrical output of 875 kW, which are adapted to the expected power requirement and enable the lowest possible fuel consumption by being designed for the optimum load range. The use of five identical systems also results in economic advantages in utilisation through synergies in training as well as spare and replacement parts.
• State-of-the-art standards are used to accommodate the team. The functionally appealing equipment also includes, among other things, the provision of specialised electronic information via a fibre optic cable-based network "Betriebsführung Truppe (BFT)" to all chambers.
• The rescue equipment has been adapted to the current building regulations. The use of an innovative mass evacuation system in the form of a "chute system" (tube slide) for rapid evacuation, as used in civil shipping, should be emphasised. Furthermore, a second, additional fast rescue boat (FRB) will be deployed, which can accommodate up to 12 people and can reach top speeds of up to 35 knots.
• For the first time, a ship-wide, mobile TETRA-based (terrestrial trunked radio) radio communication system is available in the area of emergency response. This not only offers flawless communication with any connected subscriber, but also transmits important information about the condition of the person and their equipment. This means that a complete and comprehensive picture of the situation is available at all times and enables targeted command of the damage defence battle.
• Self-protection is ensured by equipping the ship with two multi-sensor platforms (MSP 600) with optical and thermal imaging sensors as well as four light naval guns (MLG 27 mm), four heavy machine guns (sMG 12.7 mm), six machine guns (MG3 7.62 mm) and two anti-aircraft guns. Shipbuilding precautions have already been taken to install a missile defence system.
• Various telecommunications systems, including several HF and VHF systems, are available as command and control equipment. They are used to transmit voice, write and data radio and LINK. They are controlled via an integrated message handling and control system (IMUS). Compared to the first batch, the capacities in the area of satellite communication have been significantly expanded. A SHF SATCOM and UHF SATCOM system as well as two Fleet Broad Band 500 systems and a KU band system are now available for this purpose. This enables LINK 11, Battle Force Email (BFEM), Collaboration at Sea (CAS) and extensive voice and text radio. The increase in command and control capabilities also includes the fact that on the EGV BONN an international command staff can be embarked. This can operate independently and separately from the ship and convoy command from three rooms set up specifically for command tasks.
• The scope of delivery for establishing supply readiness, both in terms of technical documentation and the scope of spare parts and replacement parts, is comprehensive and takes into account the current requirements of the German Armed Forces, including the SASPF (Standard Application Software Product Family) standard.

Realisation

When the construction contract was signed on 17 December 2008 by the then Vice President of the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB), Reinhard Schütte, with the representatives of the EGV consortium (ARGE) Mr Lürßen (Fr. Lürssen Werft), Mr Sierk (Flensburger Schiffbaugesellschaft - FSG), Mr Kadow (Peene-Werft) and Dr Eckel (Emder Werft und Dockbetriebe - EWD), intensive preparatory work had already been carried out over many years. In addition to intensive negotiations with the consortium, the project management at BWB held intensive talks with the user, both with the EGV crews and with the utilisation management and the technical experts. This was the only way to find the optimum balance between requirements, technical solutions and costs - both for procurement and utilisation.

After an intensive design phase, the start of production of the third EGV was heralded on 23 March 2010 with the start of firing of the deckhouse at FSG in Flensburg. Three months later, construction of the hull began at the Peene shipyard with the first plate cut. On 16 August 2010, the keel was laid at the Peene shipyard by the then Minister of Defence as an important milestone in the practical realisation of the third EGV. The ship's hull was floated on 27 April 2011, and in May 2011 the hull and the deckhouse, which had been completed in the meantime, were transferred to EWD in Emden, where the "wedding" - the deckhouse being placed on the 174 m long hull with millimetre precision - took place on 31 May 2011. On 17 April 2012, in a ceremony attended by the Minister of Defence, the wife of the Lord Mayor of the sponsor town of BonnMrs Hanne Hufschmidt, the third EGV in the name of BONN. The final outfitting and the installation and integration tests then continued until the end of 2012, so that the first shipyard test run could be carried out in February 2013. The extensive proof of function finally led to the acceptance of the EGV on 26 June 2013 BONN and its commissioning on 13 September 2013 (see MF 11-2013 p. 12ff).

RAS manoeuvre with two frigates (Image: PIZ Marine)

Summary

With the successful realisation of the EGV BONN The efficiency of both the public client and the German shipyards and supply industry was demonstrated. The results to date from the functional and performance tests, which have now been ongoing for over six months, have confirmed the expectations of this ship - even with the participation of the military crew. With the Task force provider BONN the German Navy will receive a mission-orientated and future-proof operational asset that will further strengthen the Bundeswehr's maritime capabilities in the long term.

Gunther Brückner is Technical Government Director and Head of Division S5.1 at the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw)

Author: Gunther Brückner

Der Beitrag #meerverstehen: Einsatzgruppenversorger BONN erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

In the context of increasing international operations and the maritime fight against terrorism and piracy, the question repeatedly arises as to whether the seagoing units of the BPol Lake was to be equipped with machine guns. Among other things, a containerised 27 mm light naval gun solution was under discussion. The container could have been quickly equipped depending on the task. It is now rumoured in relevant specialist circles that, as one of his last official acts, the retired Federal Minister of the Interior, Thomas de Maizière, has proposed arming seagoing units of the BPol Lake has been approved. To the astonishment of representatives of German defence technology companies, the 57 mm Bofors gun (BAE Systems) is actually in the selection process. The most modern version of this tried-and-tested weapon is fitted on the Swedish Visby-class corvettes and the US Coast Guard cutters, among others. One can speculate that it was the US Coast Guard's model that tipped the scales in favour of BPol's decision.

We ask ourselves in this blog:

1. Isn't the 57 mm gun basically a "symmetrical" artillery piece, as the installation on a Swedish warship and in the larger units of the US Coast Guard - which comes under the command of the US Navy in the event of tension - shows?
2. In view of the greater likelihood of "asymmetric" threats, would it be Lake (fast motorboats, helicopters, drones) would a smaller, more dynamic calibre (for example the available 35 mm Millennium gun (Rheinmetall) have been the better choice?
3. Can the procurers of the BPol reproach them for not thinking "outside the box"?

Der Beitrag #meerverstehen: Bundespolizei See: Von 40 mm auf 57 mm erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

Der Beitrag #meerverstehen: Seekrieg aus der Luft - reloaded? erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

At the debriefing, the Australian delegation wanted to explain the Australians' decision-making process to the representatives of the German bid. In April, it was announced that the French state-owned shipyard DCNS would be awarded the contract worth around 35 billion euros. The Japanese bid had already been eliminated at the beginning of the year.

The daily newspaper The Australian reports, citing sources, that the meeting was rather frosty and that the Australian delegation was not particularly convincing in its reasoning:

• The Germans were told that the "critical issue'' was that their submarine was too noisy. Specifically they were told, with deliberate vagueness, that the boat would be too noisy at a particular frequency that was very important to the Royal Australian Navy - an apparent reference to the submarine's ability to collect close-to-shore intelligence without detection. The Germans countered by asking what the frequency was and why it was not emphasised in the bidding process. The Australians responded that this information was classified, but that they were not convinced TKMS understood the significance of this issue for Australia. They said the problems with stealth meant that the German proposal could never have delivered a regionally superior submarine for Australia. The Germans persisted, asking where the excess noise was coming from - internal machinery, the propellers, the hull? Again the Australian officials declined to comment.
• The successful French bidder, DCNS, worked hard behind the scenes last year to cast doubt in the minds of Australian officials about the noise level of the TKMS submarine. DCNS modelled its estimate of the noise projection of the proposed German boat using the noise signature of its own, smaller, Scorpene-class submarine. It then compared this estimate with the noise signature for the quieter new French Barracuda submarines upon which the French-Australian submarine will be substantially based. The French also loudly touted their revolutionary pump jet propulsion system, which will replace propellers on the Australian boat, the Shortfin Barracuda. Paris claimed this would give its submarine a higher tactical silent speed than the German Type 216 submarine and Japan's evolved Soryu-class submarine, both of which would have propellers. Australian officials were said to have been highly impressed by the fact that when the Barracuda submarine accelerated, the French design was significantly quieter than either the German or the Japanese alternatives.
• They said they had reservations about the safety of the proposed lithium ion batteries that were to be installed on both the German and the Japanese submarines. Both those nations maintain that lithium ion batteries, which are four times more efficient than traditional lead acid batteries, are safe, despite small fires that have occurred in those batteries in hobby equipment, cars and airlines. In March, France publicly warned about the dangers lithium ion batteries might pose in a submarine. The Australian delegation made it clear in Kiel that it too had reservations.
•  The Australians also expressed scepticism about the ability of TKMS to upscale the size of both its Siemens motors and its submarine hulls to build a 4000-plus tonne submarine - almost double the size of previous submarines built by the company.
•  In addition, the Germans were told that their cost projections were overly optimistic, including their claim that there would be only a negligible premium for building all of the submarines in Australia. Germany's bid claimed that the price of building eight submarines (not including the combat system) would be just less than $12bn, while 12 submarines including the combat system would cost $20bn.

The sound of silence - why Germany lost its subs bid, in: The Australian online, 30 May 2016 (PDF version, original article only available to subscribers).

Let's hold on:

The Australians had a specific technical requirement (noise reduction in a certain area) but did not want to specify this to the supplier. Australian concerns about TKMS's ability to utilise the existing designs of the 212/214 Classes to the proposed 4,000 tonnes design type 216 The accusation that the Germans were not capable of scaling up to a high level could not be dispelled either. The criticism was not merely of a technical nature, as the Germans were not believed to have a Submarine for strategic tasks.

France plays the lobby flute much more virtuously than Germany - nothing new, but always "nice" to observe. In addition to hiring the former Chief of Staff of the Australian Ministry of Defence, Sean Costello, as a strategic advisor and CEO of DCNS Australia, this also includes public criticism of nuclear technologies such as those used in German and Japanese nuclear power plants. Submarines lithium-ion batteries.

The fact that the TKMS Submarine The argument that the boat type is fundamentally too loud is not convincing: On the one hand, because the boat type does not yet exist and therefore no values are available and the criticism was based on the existing 212/214 types - although specific technical concerns could have been taken into account during production. On the other hand, because Singapore, a notoriously demanding user in the region, had already decided in favour of a variant (218SG) from TKMS in 2013.

The Australian decision should be taken seriously in any case - it could and should be an occasion for a critical review on the German side. Is our underwater technology really as good as we think? Have others (e.g. the French pump jet propulsion system) overtaken us? And how does Berlin deal with French behaviour in the context of a possible consolidation of the European maritime industry?

Der Beitrag #meerverstehen: Sound of Silence - Nachschlag zu australischen U-Booten erschien zuerst auf marineforum.