Flotte Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG Launches Two Hybrid Police Boats

During the recent anniversary of the Port of Hamburg, Flotte Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG introduced two new hybrid patrol boats, marking a step forward in the city’s efforts to modernize its municipal fleet with low-emission technologies. The vessels, named ‘Bürgermeister Brauer’ and ‘Bürgermeister Weichmann’, were officially christened as part of the celebrations.

Constructed at the Baltic Workboats Ltd shipyard in Estonia, both vessels were delivered to Flotte Hamburg in December 2024 and began active duty in spring 2025. They are powered by a plug-in hybrid propulsion system that includes electric motors rated at 500 kW each. These allow the vessels to operate at a cruising speed of seven knots for up to two hours solely on electric power.

Flotte Hamburg, established to consolidate and manage the city’s inland vessels with an emphasis on reducing emissions, has been operating since 2017. “The deployment of hybrid boats for police operations represents another move toward lowering emissions on Hamburg’s waterways,” said Karsten Schönewald, Managing Director of Flotte Hamburg.

The hybrid vessels are part of Hamburg’s broader environmental strategy, as the city targets climate neutrality by 2040. The transition to cleaner propulsion systems across municipal fleets is seen as a key element in this shift.