Author: Malin Stute

Elbe estuary near Cuxhaven, 4 February 2016, just before 20:00 hrs: The ‘INDIAN OCEAN’ passes the Kugelbake off Cuxhaven – heading for the Port of Hamburg as its destination. The vessel is among the world’s largest container ships. A massive ship, 400 metres long, carrying thousands of containers. But still an everyday sight at the Kugelbake, the sea mark indicating where the Elbe ends and the North Sea begins. Hundreds of vessels pass the Elbe estuary every day, heading into or out of Hamburg – nothing unusual at all. But two hours later, at around 22:00 hrs, the sense of routine comes to an abrupt end near Lühesand, just behind Stade: the ‘INDIAN OCEAN’ runs aground. The Leviathan is stuck in the Elbe. Ground to a halt.

Brunsbüttel lock, 9 November 2023, 19:20 hrs: The general alarm sounds on the tanker ‘THUN GOTHENBURG’ in the Large North Basin of the lock connecting the Elbe with the Kiel Canal. Smoke ascends: a funnel fire. Things need to move quickly now. The Brunsbüttel fire brigade arrives within minutes. But soon realises: reinforcements will be urgently needed if the fire spreads. Two distress scenarios on the water – completely different – but the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies is alerted in both cases.

Between routine operations and a state of emergency

The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies is tasked with coordinating the necessary operations in the event of shipping accidents and environmental disasters at sea and on the coast. Its operational remit includes North Sea and Baltic Sea, as well as the estuaries of the Elbe, Ems, Trave, Warnow and Weser rivers and the Kiel Canal. The priority is to rescue people and protect the environment. Since its inception in 2003, the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies has coordinated ninety-eight serious accidents, thirteen of them in the Elbe.

When the state of emergency begins

No two accidents are ever the same. The 50 women and men of the Central Command have to be prepared for anything. Every decision counts. The Central Command must be ready to go within 45 minutes and is on call 365 days a year. This is why the majority of team members live in Cuxhaven or the region, close to the Maritime Safety and Security Centre on the banks of the Elbe, where the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies is based. It is also the location of the control room and stores – the modern nerve centre for all operations.

The safety of the crew on board the ‘INDIAN OCEAN’ is the top priority here: when a container ship of this size runs aground, there is a risk of technical failures, fuel leaks and shifting cargo, while the crew must remain on board – always uncertain of whether the ship might start to list. But the risk of serious environmental damage still persists, as the ship is also carrying large volumes of heavy fuel oil, which would wreak havoc on the sensitive ecosystem of the Elbe in the event of a leak. Compounding this predicament is the danger to shipping traffic, as a giant container vessel stuck in the ground is blocking one of the world’s busiest waterways.

Fire on board is the principal risk for the ‘THUN GOTHENBURG’. This could quickly become life-threatening for the crew due to heat, smoke development and restricted escape routes. What’s more, the combination of fire and hazardous goods heightens the danger of serious environmental damage. This would have a massive impact on shipping, as an accident in the lock or in the Kiel Canal would block the important transport route between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea – with considerable knock-on effects for international trade.

The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies cooperates with numerous partner organisations. If an emergency occurs, it can call on all available resources and forces of the federal government and the five coastal states – from state-owned oil spill response vessels and the federal government’s multi-purpose ships to helicopters from the federal police and navy. Emergency services run by the Federal Agency for Technical Relief are also deployed on behalf of the Central Command. The private sector is another important part of the maritime safety network: tugboats, salvage companies, port operators. Permanent communication is the basis of every successful operation.

Experienced pilots, muscular tugs and rigorous coordination prevented any escalation after the ‘INDIAN OCEAN’ ran aground. In the case of the ‘THUN GOTHENBURG’, the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies dispatched a helicopter with Cuxhaven firefighters to support their colleagues from Brunsbüttel – and the fire was quickly extinguished on board. Nobody came to any harm.

Practice, practice, practice

The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies – an institution of the federal government and the coastal states – sees itself as a maritime competence centre. Everyday operations include regular exercises with partner organisations, the ongoing development of technical concepts and deployment scenarios and the testing of new equipment – with the aim of achieving permanent readiness for any emergency.

“Not only are the women and men from the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies highly competent, they also share a sense of motivation to take responsibility and help. Their commitment and team spirit make the difference in an emergency”, says Director Dr Robby Renner. Aside from navigators, engineers, biologists, chemists and firefighters, the team includes communication scientists and administrative staff.