Collision in Wilhelmshaven: Tax house of the lock before demolition?

Collision in Wilhelmshaven: Tax house of the lock before demolition?

An unexpected incident occurred on June 18, 2025 in Wilhelmshaven when the “Berlin” operational group supplier rammed the stem of the sea lock with full force. In this collision, the steering house between the lock chambers was severely damaged and is now considered total loss. Particularly explosive: debris parts of the steering house fell into the area of ​​the lock gates, which led to a temporary decommissioning of the lock. However, this was put back into operation after a day after diver had checked the system and could ensure that there were no further damage.

"DIE Berlin", on the other hand, had only a bump of the incident and, despite the technical difficulties and the collision, was still able to show operational readiness. Nevertheless, there are numerous questions and problems that have been causing considerable turmoil lately about the repair work of the ship.

dilapidated repair

The “Berlin” group supplier was sent to a planned repair in a Kiel shipyard a year and a half ago. However, technical problems, including a biological infestation in the cooling water system, have delayed the work. The ship could not continue on its own and had to be dragged by two tugs through the North Ostsee Canal. Construction site toilets also noticed on board, which indicates further difficulties in the functioning sanitary facility.

The completion of the work was originally planned for the second quarter of 2023. Now the Navy has to be patient by November 2023 if the shipyard test drive is to take place. Another reason for the delays is hidden damage and delivery bottlenecks for materials and staff. The lack of qualified staff in German shipyard companies is clearly noticeable here.

examination and possible consequences

The Federal Office for Sea accident examination (BSU) will now take a closer look at the collision. This independent Federal Supreme Office has the order to register and examine all types of sea accidents. The aim is to determine the circumstances and causes of the incident and to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future. The focus is not on the blame, but rather on the improvement of security standards and processes at sea. Whether the tax house has to be demolished is still open and depends on the result of the examination.

So it remains exciting in Wilhelmshaven. While the navy continues to rely on the operational readiness of its ships, the naval arenal could also take over its own repair work on the utilities in the near future - especially in the coming years when the planned dry dock has been completed in the 2030s. Until then, those responsible must remain flexible and show a good knack for the challenges that face them.

For further details on the latest developments related to the incident, you can report the reports of NWZ Online Read. This website is available for information about the work of the BSU.