Hm - I have to say if it were a German issue, I should have known about it.
My impression is that it is one of those Chinese exclusives which turned up in the late 1990s. The fact that it is made in China proves that it is a late issue from about 1998, for before that date this model was only made in Macau and in Thailand. The only "normal" issue which was made in China was the white "Ocean Explorer" version from the 1998 Beach Fun five pack. I thought that for that occasion the casting was brought back from retirement, as it had not been used for about five years.
For the time being I have cataloged this new variation as "found in China", until I learn more about its background.