Customs ship Friesland” reaches the North Sea – new protection for waters!

Customs ship Friesland” reaches the North Sea – new protection for waters!

A significant milestone for the German customs administration: the customs ship “Friesland” has reached the North Sea for the first time and will be stationed in Wilhelmshaven in the future. This 55 meter long ship is currently undergoing testing and will officially enter service in the second quarter of 2026. This reports NWZonline.

“Friesland” is the last of three new customs ships built at the Peene shipyard in Wolgast. The shipyard belongs to Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL). The ship is currently sailing under the shipyard flag as the official commissioning is still pending. The ships are made of aluminum and equipped with lower-emission LNG propulsion, which not only makes them more environmentally friendly but also more efficient. Taking into account the advanced design and technical specifications, it will be tailor-made for monitoring the cross-border movement of goods in the territory as well as in the exclusive economic zone of Germany, such as NDR explained.

Future operations and technical equipment

The customs ship “Friesland” will join a fleet of ships equipped with modern technology to ensure safety and order on the water. The main tasks of the ships include, among other things, controlling the movement of goods, combating smuggling and complying with customs regulations. Each ship is designed to carry a crew of eight people and also offers medical treatment capabilities and external firefighting capabilities.

In addition, the ships can emergency tow wrecked vessels, which can save lives in an emergency. Overall, the new customs cruisers significantly increase safety on German waters, as they are both ocean-going and offer the option of being operated purely electrically in port, which is also environmentally friendly.

Ceremonial handover and outlook

The ceremonial handover of the customs ship “Friesland” took place on November 10, 2025, attended by prominent guests such as Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania also contributed 1.5 million euros to the development costs for the drive technology Zoll.de out.

The customs ships “Oldenburg” and “Jade” are currently stationed in Wilhelmshaven. It remains to be seen whether “Friesland” will replace or additionally strengthen one of these ships. In December 2021, the General Customs Directorate commissioned the Peene shipyard to build three new customs ships, the first of which, the “Emden”, was already delivered on schedule. The “Fehmarn” was christened for use in the Baltic Sea in mid-October 2023.

In summary, it can be said that the construction and commissioning of the new customs ships represent a central point in Germany's maritime security. They are not only a technical masterpiece, but also an important tool for protecting the waters and the ships that sail on them.