On February 5, 2024, the operational group supplier “Bonn”, or EGV for short, was operational task force provider “Bonn” entered the Warnow Shipyard for unscheduled repairs. The shipyard team in Rostock-Warnemünde is taking on the challenge.
Unscheduled? The EGV Task force provider “Bonn” has been in the middle of a NATO mission in the Baltic Sea since January 15th of this year. However, participation had to be interrupted: repairs were necessary due to damage to the supply ship’s drive.
After the decision to repair the damage during the mission and to carry out the repairs in the Warnow Shipyard, which is part of the Wilhelmshaven naval arsenal, the fuel that was carried had to be handed in first. But where should five million liters of diesel fuel go? The most obvious answer was the fuel tanker “Spessart” in the Kiel naval base: it was quickly used as an interim fuel storage facility. Due to its capacity, the fuel tanker is an ideal and, in this situation, welcome storage location for the immense amount of fuel. The ship has been in Kiel since the beginning of 2024 in preparation for its decommissioning. However, all necessary systems are still functional and ready for use.
Before the diesel fuel and aviation fuel for helicopters could be pumped off board, the Schleswig-Holstein Technical Relief Agency helped and provided oil barriers. These were attached to the “Bonn” and the “Spessart”. An important step for environmental and water protection: This prevents fuel from getting into the environment.
The task force supplier then pumped the diesel fuel into the “Spessart” via a 180 meter long hose connection. The civilian crew of the “Spessart” routinely supported the project. After the fuel was delivered, the “Bonn” and its crew went to the Warnow shipyard in Rostock-Warnemünde.
As soon as all the necessary work has been completed, the navy’s largest ship can leave the shipyard again and continue its use after ten days in the shipyard. The Warnowwerft team has mastered a major challenge.