Nicolette Kressl, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, named the new vessel of the German Customs Administration Helgoland. The Helgoland has been built from 2007 to 2009 by TKMS Blohm + Voss Nordseewerke in Emden, a company of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. Numerous representatives from politics, industry and administration watched the naming and commissioning ceremony of the new customs vessel at the Überseebrücke in Hamburg.
Currently, the Helgoland is the latest vessel of the Customs Administration. The 164-ft long SWATH vessel (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) is – due to the twin-hull design – characterized by an excellent seagoing behaviour and extremely safe operating conditions at all speeds. A SWATH vessel has a reduced wave attack area and is therefore a stable platform. The diesel-electric propulsion ensures economic operation; the fuel consumption of a SWATH vessel is significantly lower than that of a monohull vessel.
The Helgoland will be a special asset of the Customs Administration for the tasks to be carried out at sea. For customs tasks and the tasks assigned to the Customs Authorities such as monitoring fisheries and pollution control, the Helgoland will monitor the German Bight and the customs boundary of the European Union. Home port of the Helgoland will be Cuxhaven. The sister ship, the Borkum – also built by TKMS Blohm + Voss Nordseewerke in Emden – is to be delivered at the end of the year.