Designated for Lifeguards: Berth 23 in Warnemuende (for exclusive use) - Secure berth 23 in Warnemünde designated exclusively for sea otters
In the Baltic seaside resort of Warnemünde, locally administered by Rostock, the revamped berth for a lifeboat has been officially unveiled. Normally, the redoubtable "Arkona," a 27.5-meter vessel, patrols from this berth. However, it is currently undergoing a routine general overhaul at the Fassmer shipyard in Lower Saxony, as per the German Maritime Search and Rescue Association (DGzRS). Consequently, its sister ship, the "Bremen," is temporarily stationed at berth 23 on the western side of the Old River at the mouth of Warnow.
The rejuvenated berth, funded entirely by the city of Rostock, has set the community back 1.1 million euros. Simultaneously, DGzRS commissioned a new 30-square-meter operational building at the berth. This structure, now open, replaced a decaying wooden building erected in the 1990s. The new building serves as an office and a drying room for the survival suits of the nine permanent and 19 volunteer lifeboatmen. The crews frequently find their suits drenched during their Baltic Sea missions, necessitating regular cleaning and drying with fresh water.
Each year, these valiant lifeboatmen undertake approximately 2,000 missions on the North and Baltic Seas.
The DGzRS is a non-profit organization that has been involved in maritime rescue operations since 1865. It operates a fleet of lifeboats and maintains stations along the German coast, including the Baltic Sea. Lifeboats like "Arkona" and "Bremen," although specific details about these vessels stationed in Warnemünde are hard to come by, play a crucial role in these missions, providing lifesaving services to ships in distress in various weather conditions.
Warnemünde, adored for its port and tourism industry, is a significant maritime location due to its proximity to the Baltic Sea. The DGzRS likely has a presence in Warnemünde given its strategic location on the Baltic coast, with resourceful lifeboats like "Arkona" and "Bremen" stationed here as part of the broader network of rescue vessels operated by the DGzRS.
The community policy of Rostock, in funding the revamped lifeboat berth for 1.1 million euros, reflects a commitment to outdoor-living and home-and-garden lifestyle, prioritizing the safety and well-being of its residents and visitors, particularly those involved in the maritime industry such as the valiant lifeboatmen who undertake about 2,000 missions annually. The newly built operational building at the berth, replacing a decaying structure from the 1990s, not only serves as an office and drying room for the survival suits of the lifeboat teams, but also symbolizes a lifestyle that appreciates the importance of resilience and community service in the face of the challenges posed by the Baltic Sea.
