French buoy laying vessel Cardonnet 2004-

Granville, France 20 July 2026

France-flagged, homeport Caen, France, registration number CN.925661, MMSI 227589910 and call sign FGD7771. Built by Océa les Sables d’Olonne in 2004. 

British buoy/lighthouse vessel (ex-Pole Star 2000-2025) Kommandor Claire 2025-

Harlingen, Netherlands 29 April 2026

As Polestar buoy/lighthouse maintenance vessel, United Kingdom-flagged, homeport Edinburg, Scotland, IMO 9211987, MMSI 235000500 and call sign ZQQC5. Built by Ferguson Marine, Port Glasgow, Scotland in 2000. Owner/manager Northern Lighthouse Board, Edinburg, Scotland. 

Former Dutch buoy layer Eems (A935) 1961-

Amsterdam, Netherlands 9 May 2026

Laid down at the Rijkswerf Willemsoord, Den Helder, Netherlands in January 1961, launched on 18 March 1961 and commissioned on 17 July 1961. Was to be sold in 1994. 

Dutch buoy layer Terschelling 1988-

Den Helder, Netherlands 18-11-2025

Of the Coast Guard. Netherlands-flagged, IMO 8802662, MMSI 245384000 and call sign PBVC. Built by Damen Shipyard Gorinchem, Gorinchem, Netherlands in 1988.

Dutch buoy layer Terschelling 1988-

Den Helder, Netherlands 21-11-2025

Of the Coast Guard. Netherlands-flagged, IMO 8802662, MMSI 245384000 and call sign PBVC. Built By Damen Shipyard Gorinchem, Gorinchem, Netherlands in 1988. 

Dutch sailing vessel Elbe (1896)

Wijk bij Duurstede, Netherlands 28 September 2025

Netherlands-flagged, homeport Oosterbeek. Gaff cutter rigged. Fishing vessel since 1920 and between 1900-1918 buoylayer, fittted out with an engine in 1914. Built at Hamburg, Germany or along the Elbe river in 1896. 

Dutch coast guard tender/buoyage vessel Frans Naerebout 1989-

Stellendam, Netherlands July 2025

Netherlands-flagged, homeport Vlissingen, IMO 8802674, MMSI 245387000 and call sign PBVM. Gross tonnage 515 tons and as dimensions 44,23 x 10,27 x 3,10 metres. Her horsepower of 1.857 hp allows a speed of 12 knots. Sister ships Terschelling and Rotterdam. Built in 1989 by Damen Shipyard Gorinchem, Gorinchem, Netherlands. Owned and managed by Netherlands Government.

Dutch buoy layer Rotterdam 1987-

Scheveningen, Netherlands 8 April 2025

Netherlands, homeport Rijswijk, IMO 8609888, MMSI 244353000 and call sign PBXG. Built by Damen Shipyard Hoogezand, Hoogezand, Netherlands in 1987. Coast guard. 

Dutch tug (Alk 1952-1991, Alca 1991-1993, Corbina 1993-2000) Hercules 2000-

Den Helder, Netherlands 1-4-2025

Netherlands-flagged, MMSI 24420141, ENI 2013745 and call sign PD8617. Built by Johannes Slichting, Yacht and Bootswerft, Travemünde, Germany with yard number 1219 in 1952. Displacement 182 tons and as dimensions 24,00 (between perpendiculars)-26,36x 7,30 x 1,90 x 8,50 (hold) metres. Renamed Alca in 1991 of Kooijman&Zn BV, Harlingen, Netherlands, renamed Corbina in 1993 and renamed Hercules in 2000. Former tug/icebreaker/auxiliary buoy layer Alk of the Wasserstrassen- und Schiffahrtsamt Lubeck, Germany.

Dutch former pilot cutter Texelstroom (1906)

Den Helder, Netherlands 1 April 2025

Netherlands-flagged, homeport Oudeschild. Built as Botter Nr.1 by Rijkswerf Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1906 for the Dutch pilot service, fitted out with an engine in 1918 and became Motorbotter Nr. 1, buoy layer and survey vessel between 1946-1958.

Russian electronic intelligence gathering ship RFS Kildin SSV512 1969-

Great Belt Bridge, Denmark 12 April 2025

Under Broen Facebook-page

Russia-flagged, IMO 461798. Launched at the Stocznia Polnocna Shipyard, Gdansk, Poland as part of Moma-class survey vessels annex buoy tenders in 1969, commissioned as a hydrographic survey vessel in 1970, converted into a intelligence gathering ship project 861M in 1970.

Former Dutch buoy layer Eems (A935) 1961-

Amsterdam, Netherlands 30 March 2025

Laid down at the Rijkswerf Willemsoord, Den Helder, Netherlands in January 1961, launched on 18 March 1961 and commissioned on 17 July 1961. Was to be sold in 1994. 

Croatian steamship Elis in 1943

According to a letter dated Zagreb 4 November 1943 of the German embassy at Zagreb to the Department of an independent Croatia were the results represented of a investigation concerning Croatian merchant coastal shipping and navy. Belonged to the former Maritime Directorate at Split which was responsible for the harbours, buoys, harbour service and so on for the complete coastline and other maritime affairs except for the tasks of the navy. For buoy laying. Gross register 231 tons.(1)

Note

1. The Independent State of Croatia was established after Yugoslavia was captured by Italy and Germany on 10 April 1941. This state was first an Italian Protectorate between 1941-1943 and then a German puppet state between 1943-1945.

Source

Bundesarchiv TM-12-II/4

Icelandic support-rescue vessel (ex-Argo 1971, Argus 1971-2000, Esvagt Alpha 2001-after 2022) Argus 2022-

King Georges Island 14 December 2024

Denmark (International Register)-flagged, IMO 7104752, MMSI 219226000 and call sign OVZW2. Also called a buoy-lighthouse vessel and crew boat. Built by Svendborg Skbsvaerft&Maskinbyggeri, Svendborg, Denmark in 1971. As Esvagt Alpha of Esvagt, Esbjerg, Denmark. Owner Icetugs, Reykjavik, Iceland. 

British buoy laying vessel Galatea 2007-

Vlissingen, Netherlands 7-11-2024

United Kingdom-flagged, homeport London, England, IMO 9338591, MMSI 235054097 and call sign MRDQ7. Owned and managed by Trinity House, London, England. Built by Dtocznia Gdynia S.A., Gdynia, Poland in 2007. 

Dutch former buoy vessel Waddenzee (A 943) 1958-

Amsterdam, Netherlands 31 August 2024

Laid down at the Rijkswerf Willemsoord, Den Helder, Netherlands with yard number 58 for the Pilot service at Texel, Netherlands on 1 August 1958, launched on 1 April 1959, commissioned on 27 January 1959, laid up at Gorinchem, Netherlands 1990 to be sold. Sold on 6 November 1992 to Damen Shipyards and again sold in December a year later. Used by the Betonningsdienst Rijksloodswezen. 

Former Dutch buoy layer Eems (A935) 1961-

Amsterdam, Netherlands 31 August 2024

Laid down at the Rijkswerf Willemsoord, Den Helder, Netherlands in January 1961, launched on 18 March 1961 and commissioned on 17 July 1961. Was to be sold in 1994. 

Belgian buoy layer Zeearend 1957-

Stadsmuseum Oostende, Belgium

Dutch coast guard tender/buoyage vessel Frans Naerebout 1989-

Schelde off Vlissingen, Netherlands 24 May 2024

Netherlands-flagged, homeport Vlissingen, IMO 8802674, MMSI 245387000 and call sign PBVM. Gross tonnage 515 tons and as dimensions 44,23 x 10,27 x 3,10 metres. Her horsepower of 1.857 hp allows a speed of 12 knots. Sister ships Terschelling and Rotterdam. Built in 1989 by Damen Shipyard Gorinchem, Gorinchem, Netherlands. Owned and managed by Netherlands Government.

Japanese auxiliary minelayer Katoku 1915-1954

Launched at Maizuru in October 1915, completed on 4 April 1916, captured in August 1945, served in the Repatriation Service until 1947, handed over to the USA but given back in 1948, added to the Japanese Self Defence Force in 1948 and as patrol boat PS 29 stricken from the effective list between 1953-1954. Between 1948-1954 also used as buoy tender at Hiroshima. The appareance of the several units differs expecially dealing with the position of the main mast, which by some ships even was fitted at one side at the stern. Some sources referred to as mining vessels. General characteristics a displacement of 405 (standard)-420 (normal) tons (metric tons 412 respectively 427) and as dimensions 150 (between perpendicular) x 25 x 7.5 feet. Range 430 nautical miles/12 knots speed. Reciprocating propulsion with one boiler and vertical triple expansion engine delivering 600 ihp allowing a speed of 12.8 knots. Armament consisted of 2x1-7.72cm/3” 40 cal anti aircraft guns and 120 mines type No. 4 of which 60 were stowed on rails on the upper deck and the other 60 in 3 holds and probably 2-4 machine guns. The aft gun was replaced between 1941-1942 by depth charge equipment. Served as minelayers, escort and harbour defence duties.