Havariekommando services

The Maritime Emergency Reporting and Assessment Centre (MERAC) is the communication centre of the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME), its core, so to speak. It is operated 24/7/365 by experienced master mariners. They collect, verify and assess all information relevant for dealing with a complex emergency situation in the North - and in the Baltic Sea. Positions of CCME`s partners disposable vessels and further information i.e. current weather forecasts are outlined in maritime situation reports, which are published daily.

This section exists with its assignment of tasks since 1980. It is responsible for all national and international tasks regarding the reconnaissance of and response to marine pollution. We are developing concepts for emergency towing and for all questions concerning places of refuge. The Marine Pollution Response Section (high Sea) represents the Federal Republic of Germany in several international expert panels or advises them. This include expert panels of the EC as well as panels of the BONN-Agreement (North Sea), the Helsinki-Convention (Baltic Sea) and the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

For the five Coastal States this section organises the marine pollution response at the coasts, the estuaries and the ports as well as on shores and beaches. We establish the contingency plan for marine pollution response and we develop further response strategies and techniques. Our section purchases all technical equipment needed, such as oil recovery vessels for near shore operations or shoreline clean-up equipment, and we co-ordinate their service. Knowing the importance of constant training, we run exercises for the On-Scene-Cordinators and we plan national and international exercises as well as trials.

The Fire Fighting, Rescue and Medical Response Section develops standards guidelines for the deployment of fire brigades and emergency physicians at sea. We conceive and organise: Medical response for injured and sick persons, fire fighting, general technical support.