Pollution Control has been hunting down polluters from the air since 1986. Two Dornier 228s take off from the Nordholz naval air base near Cuxhaven. On board: radar, high-resolution cameras and infrared and ultraviolet sensors. The system is designed to prevent ships from illegally washing their tanks or dumping oil. The airborne surveillance is carried out jointly by the German Navy's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies and naval aviators.
51 cases in German waters
Of the 130 cases of pollution detected according to the average command 51 in German waters - 39 in the North Sea and twelve in the Baltic Sea. The remaining cases were spread across Dutch, Danish and Swedish waters. The "oil planes" also patrol these waters on the basis of intergovernmental agreements.
Mineral oil was involved in 36 cases. In 94 other cases, the substances could not be clearly identified - often drilling water or residues from tank washing, according to the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies. The evidence will be passed on to the responsible investigating authorities in the respective countries.
Contamination at a low level
The crew flew a total of 472 missions in 2025. They detected contamination approximately every eleven to twelve flight hours. In comparison: in 2023, the alarm sounded every 7.7 hours. Overall, the number of contaminations remains at a low level, emphasises the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies. The high level of monitoring activity sends a strong signal to the shipping industry.
Fabian Boerger
Editor News & Panorama
