The German Navy’s supply ship “Berlin” concluded a five-month North Atlantic deployment with its return to Wilhelmshaven on Saturday, bringing approximately 180 service members home in time for the holidays. The 20,000-ton vessel conducted maneuvers between Greenland, Iceland, and Great Britain-a strategically vital area amid concerns over potential Russian disruption to supply routes-and made port calls in Greenland, New York City, and Miami. The deployment was briefly impacted by illness onboard, necessitating an unscheduled stop in Bermuda for medical attention to crew members experiencing influenza and chickenpox.
Stand: 13.12.2025 12:47 Uhr
The German navy’s supply ship “Berlin” returned to Wilhelmshaven on Saturday after a five-month deployment in the North Atlantic. The vessel, carrying approximately 180 service members, arrived at its home port Saturday morning.
The “Berlin” conducted operations in the North Atlantic, including an unscheduled stop in Bermuda due to multiple illnesses among the crew. Reports indicate cases of influenza and chickenpox, and some crew members were reportedly evacuated for medical attention. The navy has not released official details, including the number of affected personnel, citing security concerns.
Stops in Greenland and New York
“My crew is looking forward to reuniting with family, loved ones and friends and spending the Christmas holidays with them,” said the ship’s commander, Fregattenkapitän Karsten Uwe Schlüter, prior to the vessel’s arrival. The 174-meter (571-foot) “Berlin” departed from the naval base in August. During its deployment, the supply ship visited Nuuk, Greenland, New York City, and Miami, in addition to conducting several maneuvers in the Atlantic. The crew familiarized themselves with the seas between Greenland, Iceland, and Great Britain, an area of strategic importance as Russia could potentially disrupt supply routes there. Schlüter stated that the deployment demonstrated the German Navy’s readiness with its allies.
Navy Ship Equipped with Medical Facility
Supply ships are the largest vessels in the German Navy, providing task forces at sea with essential resources such as fuel, provisions, materials, and ammunition. According to the Navy, the ships are also prepared for medical emergencies and are equipped with a medical center containing multiple hospital beds.
