The SK 40 and 41 are the fourth and fifth special vessels in the new 28-m SAR cruiser class operated by the DGzRS, and have 4,000 HP for reaching speeds up to 24 knots. For the rescue teams and crew, going out on a mission also demands other exceptional skills. It is important that the SARs operated by the DGzRS remain maneuverable, no matter how rough the conditions at sea. This is where the mtu engines come in which have to keep on running, even in the event of heavy listing (tilting) or a complete capsize, when the vessel completes a 360° turn around its own axis. The engines are equipped with a special 'rough kit', which includes an extra-deep oil pan with special purpose bulkheads, a modified crankcase breather system and specially adapted engine control.
The sea rescuers
The German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) is responsible for maritime search-and-rescue missions in the German North and Baltic seas. Its fleet comprises some 60 search and rescue cruisers and boats on call at over 55 stations between Borkum in the west and Usedom in the east. In 2018, the DGzRS carried out 2,156 missions, saving 356 people who were in distress at sea or in danger. Many hundreds of others were happy to rely on the rescuers' services, available around the clock, however adverse the weather conditions. As it has been since the year of its founding in 1865, the DGzRS is financed solely by donations and voluntary contributions. The patron of the service is Germany’s Federal President.
