The Nordic is a German emergency tow vessel (ETV) stationed on an offshore position north of the East Frisian island of Norderney on halfway to Heligoland.

[6][7] The construction and commissioning of the Nordic were a consequence of the Pallas accident off Amrum island in 1998 when the cargo vessel ran aground and lost a substantial amount of oil.

[8][9] Especially the Schutzgemeinschaft Deutsche Nordsee association and many other non-governmental organisations for the protection of the environment had worked towards the commissioning of a new emergency tow vessel on the German North Sea coast.

[1] The Nordic is owned by NORTUG Bereederungs GmbH & Co. KG which is partially held by the members of the German consortium Arbeitsgemeinschaft Küstenschutz.

The ship is operated by Fairplay (after merger with the former operatior Bugsier-, Reederei- und Bergungsgesellschaft) who charter the tow vessel to the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development for an initial time of ten years and a fee of €114 million.

With a maximum speed of 19.9 knots (36.9 km/h; 22.9 mph)[4] the Nordic is able to reach any stricken vessel in German North Sea waters within two hours.