Search and Rescue
Maritime search and rescue service in the North and Baltic Sea
The DGzRS (Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger = German Maritime Search and Rescue Service) is responsible for search and rescue (SAR) in the German areas of the North and Baltic Sea. The Federal Republic of Germany has assigned this sovereign task by law to the DGzRS, which already exists since 1865. The DGzRS operates the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) Bremen as well as about 60 rescue vessels and boats of various sizes.
The robust rescue units of the DGzRS all fly the German Flag. As the work of the DGzRS requires a very specific and significantly higher safety standard, which cannot be reflected in general rules and regulations, and the DGzRS has always subjected their units to special vessel requirements which are far more stringent than those for general shipping, the DGzRS ships do not need safety certificates - this is also stipualted in section 2 paragraph 3 of the Ship Safety Act.
The Search and Rescue Region of Responsibility (SRR) of the DGzRS and thus the area of operation of the German SAR service covers the North and Baltic Sea from the Ems Estuary in the West to the Bay of Pomerania in the East with around 3,660 kilometres of coastline and comprises the whole Exclusive Economic Area (EEA) of the Federal Republic of Germany. At 55 DGzRS stations about 180 permanent employees and over 800 voluntary maritime rescuers are active in the SAR fleet - around the clock and no matter the weather.
The DGzRS fully finances its work with donations and voluntary contributions, without using any public funding. Since their establishment in the 19th century, the DGzRS has rescued more than 87,000 people from their distress at sea or freed them from danger.
On the website of the DGzRS, you can find more information and ways to alert about a maritime emergency.
