Corona crisis: Into the mudflats despite corona? Sailing and rules on the North Sea coast

The measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic do not stop at the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site. Here, too, sailors and motor boaters must expect a patchwork of regulations in the near future, even if they are relaxed.

For example, when labelling the mudflats. Normally, this, known as summer spraying, is applied on 1 May each year. However, the virus and the way it has been handled have also thrown this schedule out of kilter. Almost all water and shipping authorities on the German North Sea coast have announced in recent days that the mudflats are not yet or only partially marked according to the current course of the tidal flats. To this end, the authorities' survey vessels always go out for days at the start of the season to check the pricks from the previous year that are still in place after the winter and to relocate them if necessary.

Which mudflats are labelled?

The situation in the area between Borkum and Spiekeroog, in the area of responsibility of the Ems-Nordsee Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA) in Emden, is pleasing. "Of course, we're sprinkling. And we will be finished by mid-May," reports Helmut Olthoff, head of the WSA's nautical office. This means that in his area of responsibility, the Ems andBorkum to the eastern end of the islandSpiekeroog only a short delay. Although the marking of the Nordland fairway off Juist, the Wagengat and the Langeoog mudflats is still missing, he is confident that all the pricks will be in place by mid-May ( see current BfS ).

The neighbouring district betweenWangerooge up to and including theJade is largely up to date, reports Stephan Hellwig from the Weser-Jade-North Sea Waterways and Shipping Authority. This is mainly due to the fact that the winter was mild, the work was started early and was almost finished by the time the pandemic broke out. "We were lucky," says Hellwig.

However, it is difficult to understand that his area of responsibility ends in the middle of a mudflat fairway. And that is theKaiserbaljea popular and busy route between the Weser and Jade rivers during the season. Half of this falls within the Wilhelmshaven area of responsibility and half within that of the Bremerhaven site. And no prick setting work is currently being carried out there. This means that the mudflats fairway is only currently marked on the western, deeper side in the Wilhelmshaven area.

"During the pandemic, we are having problems with the timely insertion of pricks, in that the pricks are being inserted very closely between colleagues who are working nose-to-nose," explains Joachim Niezgodka, Head of Shipping at the site.Bremerhaven,the delay. "We are currently working on a solution there, so that we can then start installing the bollards." However, there is no time horizon yet. Fairway buoys are not affected, only pricks. "In terms of seamanship, you would therefore be well advised not to navigate these mudflats at the moment," says Niezgodka.

Even in the most recent Notice to mariners dated 30 April of the WSACuxhaven states: "Navigating the mudflats is only possible with good local knowledge." Here, too, there are delays: "The marking of the Weser-Elbe mudflats, the Elbe-Neuwerk mudflats and the Neuwerker Loch with buoys and fairway buoys has not yet been sufficiently completed or renewed. The existing pricks or buoys are not to be regarded as safe fairway markings," says the BfS.

Mike Brodhagen, nautical officer on duty at WSA Cuxhaven, explains to YACHT online that employees have been absent due to the pandemic and that the work of setting pricks is considered risky work due to the proximity to each other. "Each office regulates occupational health and safety itself," says Brodhagen.

Helmut Olthoff's team from Emden therefore uses protective masks and keeps as safe a distance as possible. "We also do everything we can to ensure that we don't mix the crews. You have to get out of each other's way a little on board and keep to yourself. That's the only way it works," says the navigator from WSA Ems-Nordsee.

Yesterday's announcement by Schleswig-Holstein's Minister of Economic Affairs, Bernd Buchholz, regarding the easing of restrictions for sailors on 4 May may have given boat owners in the northernmost federal state hope for an early start to the season. However, it is to be expected that the prick paths along the entire Schleswig-Holstein North Sea coast will not be currently labelled. "We won't start the work until May," reports Kay Hulgaard, official nautical officer at WSA Tönning.

It remains to be seen when the project will be completed.

Where can you sail?

But where and under what conditions is sailing in the mudflats and on the German North Sea coast currently even possible and permitted? Here, too, it is not easy to keep track of the countless new regulations issued by the districts and local authorities along the coast.

Iris BornholdChairwoman of the Wadden Sea Drivers' Interest GroupSoltwatersis nevertheless trying. The owner of a trimaran is in close dialogue with the clubs in the area and is calling for Soltwaters to "lift the massive restrictions that have been imposed on the clubs". This is the only way to ensure a "summer water sports season in compliance with the applicable pandemic regulations."

Like so many nationwide initiatives by sailors, Soltwaters also points out in a current statement points out that sailors can comply with social distancing and hygiene measures where necessary. The association is in favour of the "abolition of the currently very different regional regulations and ordinances" "so that all water sports enthusiasts can practice their sport under the same conditions".

The association is also calling for the ban on overnight stays in some harbours to be lifted. Sailing itself is not prohibited in the Wadden Sea, federal waterways may be used in principle. However, the framework conditions resulting from the regulations make it almost impossible in the usual manner. For example, visitors are not allowed to sail to the East Frisian Islands, overnight stays are prohibited in many places and locks in the area are sometimes not operated or only operated for berth holders. TheDistrict of Aurich even held a General ruling which explicitly prohibits the use of boats for owners who do not come from the district in the upcoming days around the first weekend in May.

It states:

"In the period from 30.04.2020 up to and including 06.05.2020, the use of sports and sailing boats (...) is prohibited. Use includes both the repair and maintenance of sports and sailing boats (...). Excluded from this regulation is the use of sports and sailing boats (...) by persons who have their primary residence in the districts of Aurich, Leer and Wittmund as well as in the independent city of Emden."

The district justifies the tough measure with the fear that "many people will make their way to the district area over the upcoming long weekend to launch their boat". There are fears of an increase in the number of infections with serious consequences.

But Iris Bornhold is not hopeless. She doesn't believe that the situation will change in the very short term either, but: "I think that things will start to move as soon as overnight stays for tourism purposes are permitted again."

The regulations for sailing clubs in Lower Saxony also give cause for hope. HowThomas GoteChairman of theLower Saxony Sailing Association (SVN) According to the statement by the Lower Saxony Ministry for Social Affairs, Health and Equality, the grounds of sailing clubs are not considered sports facilities, sports venues or clubs and may therefore be entered and the jetties used, for example, while maintaining the minimum distance.

The association also states on its website: "As early as 7 April, the SVN was able to contact the Lower Saxony Ministry for Social Affairs, Health and Equality - Lagestab - and achieve a clarification at Lower Saxony state level that was unique in Germany up to that point and remains unchanged to this day: Sailing on a one-man boat is considered an individual sport and is therefore permitted. It doesn't matter whether sailing starts in a public or club harbour."

Nevertheless, it is clear that sailing will probably only be possible to a limited extent for some time to come, even in the Wadden Sea retreat and on the German North Sea coast - and certainly not as carefree as before coronavirus.