Spring is coming, the Easter holidays are near: but the whole of Europe is paralysed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. These days, many owners are receiving calls or emails from their shipyards and harbour operators: many harbours are closed and wintering out is out of the question for the time being.
Since the lockdown of all northern German islands for tourists, owners without a primary residence on the islands can no longer access their boats on the islands.Rügen orFehmarnand of course not onall other islands.
In the meantime, the wholeSchleswig-Holstein closed to tourists. The regulation comes into force on 18 March. This means that owners from other federal states who have their boats in Schleswig-Holstein will no longer be able to go there for the time being. All marinas must also close, if they have not already done so. The regulation will initially apply until 19 April.
TheKiel Sports Harbour GmbHwhich operates a total of nine harbours on the Kiel Fjord, has a FAQ with further details on their website compiled. Accordingly, the harbours are currently unstaffed and the sanitary facilities are closed. The winter storage sheds are locked and no work is permitted there. The mast crane may not be used either. However, yachts coming in from the sea may moor and the jetties may be entered to check the lines.
AlsoMecklenburg-Western Pomeraniahas decreed that all tourists must leave the country and that tourist travel there is prohibited until further notice.
InNorth Rhine-Westphalia The following applies: club life is also on hold at the sailing clubs, but there is no general ban on sailing - so anyone who has a jetty with their boat on one of the lakes, for example, may also use it.
Owners who even have their berth inDenmark have, for example inAugustenborg orSønderborgcannot get to their boats because of the closed border.
Also inBremenincluding in the large marinaHasenbürenThe following applies: club activities are suspended until further notice, boats will not be launched. TheMarina Europahafen but is open.
TheIm-Jaich harbours on the North Sea and Baltic coasts will also remain open - except in Schleswig-Holstein.
The marina tooWedel will now have to close: Operations there have been running as usual until now.
It should be noted that in manyClub harbourssuch as the Jörsfeld Sailing Club inBerlinbut also in many other places, slipping is currently not possible.
In the NetherlandsLelystad the harbour is open and boats are craned, but the owners are explicitly not supposed to be there. They can bring their boats to the berth later. Access to the harbour and the sanitary facilities is only possible with an access card.
Spain has meanwhile issued a ban on yachts leaving the harbour.
Belgium has closed its territorial waters in the North Sea to recreational boating for the time being. The regulation initially applies until 3 April.
In general, sailors should check the websites of their harbours in advance and call their shipyards or winter storage operators.
FAQ harbour closures: Lawyer Heiko Wychodil answers the most important questions on the topic
What exactly is now forbidden for sailors?
The federal states have issued a general decree listing exactly what is now prohibited. This includes club activities, sporting gatherings, etc. Sailing clubs, for example, are therefore no longer allowed to offer their members a platform for meetings.
Does this general ruling also apply to harbours?
No. It does not say that harbour or shipyard operators have to close their facilities. There is no ban. If, for example, the harbour in Wedel says that everything is still open here and the owners can work on their boat and launch their ship, then that is permitted.
So why are so many other harbours closing now?
Many harbour and winter storage operators go one step further in advance and use their domestic authority to do so. This is absolutely fine, as the authorities recommend avoiding gatherings of several people. In this respect, it's completely okay.
What is the situation abroad?
This is particularly bitter, of course, because the owners who now have their ships in Denmark, Spain or even Italy can no longer get there because of the closed borders.
Do summer berths abroad actually have to be paid for now, even though it is likely that they cannot be used for the full season?
That's a good question! In any case, the owner should contact the berth operator and negotiate an individual solution - either agree a reduced price or conclude a cancellation agreement if you want to give up the berth. If you simply do not pay now, the berth operator can cancel the berth. However, if you pay the full price now and the measures are then even extended, it could well be that you will no longer be able to use the pitch at all during the season. So I would hesitate to pay the full price now, but in any case get in touch with the landlord and find an amicable solution. In any case, I would advise against getting involved in disputes abroad.
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