The construction of the “iMERZ” project was launched in September 2019 and demonstrates the good cooperation between shipyard, supplier industry and German Navy.
“This closeness and ability to cooperate is the strength of German naval surface shipbuilding and leads to new, innovative ideas”, said Jörg Herwig, Managing Director of GERMAN NAVAL YARDS KIEL. The “iMERZ” production is on schedule and is currently entering the “hot phase”, according to Project Manager Bernd Wittorf of GERMAN NAVAL YARDS KIEL. The shipbuilding work is nearing completion and after the conservation work the equipment will be installed.
The medical equipment is supplied by ZEPPELIN MOBILE SYSTEME (ZMS) from the Lake Constance region. It shows once again that complex naval projects like the “iMERZ” can only be realized together with specialized suppliers from all over Germany.
iMERZ
Until 2015, a container-based Rescue Centre had been installed on the “Frankfurt am Main”. This was destroyed by a fire in 2015. With the refitting on the “Frankfurt am Main” Rescue Centre, the ship will then have a complete hospital. The “iMERZ” consists of an integrated infirmary, two operating rooms, an X-ray room, a dental technology department and various laboratories to ensure the operational readiness of the German Navy at sea.
About the Berlin-class
The Frankfurt am Main (A1412) is the second of three Berlin-class combat support vessels. Their missions consist in the support of German naval units away from their home ports. The ships carry fuel, provisions, ammunition and other materiel and also provide medical services. The three ships of the class (Berlin, Frankfurt am Main and Bonn) are named after German cities where German parliaments were placed.
Frankfurt am Main was built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. It commissioned in May 2002 and is homeported at Wilhelmshaven naval base.
The Berlin-class serves as the basic design for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Joint Support Ship (JSS) program.
Berlin-class main characteristics
- Length: 173.7 m (569 ft 11 in)
- Beam: 24 m (78 ft 9 in)
- Displacement: 20,240 tonnes
- Capacity: 9330 tonnes of fuel oil, aviation fuel and fresh water
- Cargo space: 550 tonnes mixed cargo
- Speed: 20 kn (37 km/h)
- Aircraft: 2 × 10 tonne helicopters: Sea King or NH90
- Armament: 4 × MLG 27 mm autocannon, Stinger surface-to-air missile (MANPADS),
- Crew: 139 (+ 94), plus hospital capacity for 43 patients
