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German Sea Rescue Society (DGzRS)

Logo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

National organisation responsible for search and rescue in Germany's territorial waters

The German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (German: Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger - DGzRS, German pronunciation:; lit. German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked Persons) is a membership organisation in Germany. It is responsible for Search and Rescue in German territorial waters in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, including the Exclusive Economic Zone.2 It was founded by Georg Breusing, Adolph Bermpohl and Arwed Emminghaus.1 It is headquartered in Bremen.1 It employed 321 people in 2024.1 Its revenue was €87 million in 2024.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

May 29, 1865Founded1

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"Anneliese Kramer"
Photo: Hannes964, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

The German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (German: Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger - DGzRS, German pronunciation: [deːɡeːt͡sɛtʔɛʁˈʔɛs]; lit. German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked Persons) is a membership organisation in Germany. It is responsible for Search and Rescue in German territorial waters in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, including the Exclusive Economic Zone.2

The story

Founded by Adolph Bermpohl, Arwed Emminghaus and Georg Breusing on May 29, 1865, in Kiel.1

Leadership

Who has led German Sea Rescue Society (DGzRS), and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Chair

  1. Hermann Henrich Meier1865–1898
197019801990200020102020

Products and brands

The DGzRS operates 59 vessels on 55 stations in the North Sea and Baltic, 20 of which are seagoing cruisers (German: Seenotrettungskreuzer) between 20 m and 46 m of length, and 39 vessels are classified as inshore lifeboats (German: Seenotrettungsboote). A feature of the cruisers is that all but the 20-m class carry a fully equipped small lifeboat on deck which can quickly be released through a gate in the aft for conducting operations in shallow waters. This principle was developed by DGzRS in the 1950s. The 20-m class uses a rigid-hulled inflatable boat instead.

All DGzRS vessels are self-righting, i.e. if they capsize, they right themselves again.

From Wikipedia’s article on German Sea Rescue Society, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Employees over time

German Sea Rescue Society (DGzRS) employees by year1321 in 2024+14% since 2011
01002003004002011: 28128120112018: 2872872018+2%2020: 3003002020+5%2023: 3153152023+5%2024: 3213212024+2%
  • 20243211
  • 20233151
  • 20203001
  • 20182871
  • 20112811

Revenue over time

As stated on Wikidata, in the currency reported.

Revenue

German Sea Rescue Society (DGzRS) revenue by year187.0M EUR in 2024+153% since 2011
025.0M EUR50.0M EUR75.0M EUR100.0M EUR2011: 34.3M EUR34.3M EUR20112018: 44.7M EUR44.7M EUR2018+30%2020: 58.1M EUR58.1M EUR2020+30%2022: 51.2M EUR51.2M EUR2022−12%2023: 67.8M EUR67.8M EUR2023+32%2024: 87.0M EUR87.0M EUR2024+28%
  • 202487.0M EUR1
  • 202367.8M EUR1
  • 202251.2M EUR1
  • 202058.1M EUR1
  • 201844.7M EUR1
  • 201134.3M EUR1

Timeline

  1. May 29, 1865Founded Founded in Kiel1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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