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Patrol vessel followed by suspected Russian spy drones off Borkum

An incident involving spy drones occurred in the North Sea, when seven suspected Russian drones followed the 'Potsdam' for three hours. The patrol boat's task in the North Sea was to monitor the Russian freighter "Lauga" (IMO: 9111060) en route to Zeebrugge, where it berthed on May 28, 205. The 'Potsdam' was monitoring it about 140 kilometers north of the island of Borkum. The drones followed the vessel for almost three hours. Federal police officers on the patrol vessel were unable to identify the type of drone, they only recognized the green and red navigation lights. The police boat's resources were insufficient to take photographs of the drones at night. It was initially suspected that the drones had been launched from the Russian freighter, but there was no evidence of this. In order to find out more about the suspected spy drones from Russia, the police officers on the ship contacted the Federal Police Directorate in Bad Bramstedt. They asked the authorities in Belgium to inspect the Russian ship in the port of Zeebrugge, however, no evidence of drone technology was found on board. The "Lauga" left the port again the same day, en route to St. Petersburg in Russia, with an EA as of June 2.

German and Danish units shadowing Russian ships in the Baltic Sea

On March 17, 2025, the 'Esbern Snare' was shadowing two Russian landing ships, which have been involved in the retrieval of military equipment withdrawn from Syria since Dec 2024. The "Aleksandr Oktrakovski" was sailing south of Bornholm and headed west. The reason was unclear. The operation in Syria is actually considered over. The ships are equipped with large anchors, which actually intended to make it easier for ships to leave the beach during amphibious operations. However, since traces of anchors have repeatedly been found in connection with severed submarine cables in the Baltic Sea, authorities have paid particular attention to the Russian Navy's large tank landing ships. According to maritime law, there is a specific corridor that Russian Navy ships are permitted to use through the North and Baltic Seas. However, this route passes very close to German and Danish wind farms, including various power and data cables, that's why Denmark's Navy paid particular attention to the "Aleksandr Otrakovski" and dispatched the frigate from Korsør to escort the ship from Bornholm. Off Rügen, the German task force vessel "Bamberg" participated in observing the Russian ship. The units moved behind the landing ship so that they could see the anchor at the stern using night vision technology. Off the Fehmarn Belt, the task force vessel "Bayreuth" replaced the "Bamberg," and the patrol boat "Rota-P 525'" took over the "Esbern Snare"'s duties on the Danish side. According to the Federal Police, there were no incidents. The landing craft passed Puttgarden on Fehmarn on Feb 18 at 6 a.m. It was the third Russian naval vessel within a few days. On March 13, the destroyer "Severomorsk" and on March 17, the research vessel "Admiral Vladimirsky," suspected of conducting hybrid warfare, were shadowed. The next Russian units in these sea areas are expected on March 20, including the landing craft "Ropucha" and the "Aleksandr Shabalin," which has been shadowed by the Federal Police ship "Potsdam" in the North Sea west of Sylt since the morning of March 18, which means that three of the Federal Police's seven ships are currently engaged with the Russian Navy, posing challenges for the police, which are being met jointly in close cooperation with neighbouring authorities and international partners in these. Report with photos: https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/russlands-marine-beschaeftigt-bundespolizei-zeitgleich-auf-nordsee-und-ostsee-SX264H6GIZBGBHD42VI3K7AL5I.html

Patrol boat assisted in medical emergency

On the morning of July 8, 2024, a medical emergency occurred on the German sailing yacht "Josephina" northwest of Heligoland. The patrol boat 'Potsdam' of the Federal Police received a radio message from the sailing yacht at around 3:30 a.m. The sailing yacht requested medical assistance because a crew member was complaining of severe chest pain. The 'Potsdam' was within range of the "Josephina" at the time and immediately offered its help to the MRCC Bremen. The nearby 'Costa Favolosa' was also involved in the responsce. The ship attempted to ferry its doctor on board the sailing yacht. Due to the weather conditions, however, the cruise ship was unable to transfer hun onto the sailing vessel with its tender boat. The B'Potsdam' then deployed its inspection boat, took the cruise ship's doctor on board and brought him onto the sailing yacht with two paramedics of the federal police. Together they managed to stabilize the patient and transport him onto the 'Potsdam'. A helicopter with an emergency doctor on board that had landed on police vessel in the meantime took over the patient and flew him to a hospital. The inspection boat of the "Potsdam" then brought the ship's doctor back onto the cruise ship. Report with photo: https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/70260/5818473