If you've been thinking about the weeks of hard work in winter storage with the idea of your first trip at Easter, you may now be facing unexpected obstacles. Not everything is running smoothly on the North and Baltic Seas. The Schlei, where hundreds of yachts are stuck behind Kappeln, is particularly affected. But elsewhere, too, locks need to be maintained and buoys need to be moved.
Waiting times at bridges and locks
The bridge in Lindaunis, a perennial favourite among those reporting closures, only opens sporadically due to construction work. Nevertheless, it will remain permanently open for boats on the Easter weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. The purpose of the permanent opening should be to allow winter berth holders from the inner Schlei to sail to their summer berth.
But they don't get far, already inKappelnThe Schleibrücke bridge there cannot be lifted until at least 22 April. It will still be possible to pass under the unlifted bridge. However, the clearance height at medium water level is only 3.50 metres, which is likely to be tight for some yachts even with the mast down. This means that winter berth holders cannot get out and summer berth holders cannot get in. A "backlog" must also be expected in other harbours.
Once outside, things don't necessarily continue smoothly. So theSonderborg bascule bridge will be closed from 25 to 29 April. Damage has been found that urgently needs to be repaired and will not allow it to open during the particularly popular travel period around Easter.
Who afterGreifswald must expect a longer lunch break on some days. The storm surge barrier at the mouth of the River Ryck remains closed from 11:15 a.m. to around 12:45 p.m. from time to time throughout the year, including from Tuesday 26 to Thursday 28 April. The other closing times read here.
With only one day's break, the barrage at theKrückau/Elbe off: It will pause on Sunday, 1 May, probably from 4:45 am to 5:15 pm. The Krückau is to be dammed up on this day so that the Kronsnest ferry can start operating for the season.
In the small marina north of theLock in Kiel-Holtenau there are only a few berths available for pleasure craft until at least 15 April. The western part of the jetty is completely closed, while there are a few berths in the eastern part - but without land access.
The pleasure craft lock to the Kiel Canal in Holtenau is still out of service. Pleasure craft share the large lock chamber with commercial shipping. The waiting times in front of the locks to and from the NOK can vary in both Kiel and Brunsbüttel. How busy it is at any given time can be here always up to date. However, the times apply to commercial shipping; it can be quicker for pleasure craft. The lock masters provide precise information. They can be reached on VHF channel 4 ("Kiel Canal") or by telephone, in Kiel on 0431/3603-152, in Brunsbüttel on 04852/885-25.
Work is also underway on the North Sea: the lockHooksiel will only be operated to a limited extent until at least the end of June due to maintenance work. The lock times depend on the tides and therefore change almost daily. When the lock between Hooksmeer and Jade is open, can be read here. Locking then takes place on the hour. The aim is to ensure that all ships are channelled even when traffic volumes are high.
Shooting practice on the Baltic Sea
Until the end of June, theBay of Kiel large-scale firing exercises take place. The training area extends from Eckernförde Bay to the north of Schleimünde and across the border to Denmark into Marstal Bay. The area is not marked as a firing range on the nautical chart, but the BfS provides the coordinates. here known. Exercises will also take place until the end of June in the shooting rangesArkona andPomeranian Bay take place. These shooting areas are marked on the nautical chart. All exercises take place during the day and at night, there will be no barriers.
Watch out! Anyone approaching a shooting target in the dark will be alerted by flares with white stars, and the shooting target will also be illuminated. The vessels taking part in the exercise will identify themselves by signalling NE 4 in accordance with the International Code of Signals and otherwise only use the lights and signals provided for in the COLREGs and SeeSchStrO.
Restricted area in the Fehmarnbelt
The Fehmarnbelt tunnel from Fehmarn to Lolland has been under construction since last summer. This is currently causing restrictions and will continue to do so in the coming years. Tunnel elements are being lowered from the water surface to the seabed on both sides of the belt. Restricted areas will be set up for this purpose, which will move as the tunnelling progresses. All details about the construction project can be found here.
Keep your eyes open: Shallow depths and barrel laying
The hurricanes of recent months have changed the water depths in places, particularly in the tidal areas and shallow areas on the Baltic Sea coast. On the Baltic Sea the Bodden waters, the waters around Rügen and the approaches to Kirchdorf and Timmendorf on Poel are particularly affected. Even in Warnemünde, the access to the Alter Strom in the western area has silted up. The permissible draught here has been reduced from 3.00 to 2.50 metres until further notice.
At theNorth Seait will become shallow in the Föhrer Ley, the mudflat fairway east of the North Frisian island, north of buoy 10, according to the BfS, which also expressly warns recreational shipping of the reduced depth. The water depths have also changed in some places in the Wadden Sea behind the East Frisian Islands. In order to adapt the fairways to the current water depths, buoys are being laid everywhere on the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and dredging work must also be expected in the harbours and approaches, at least on weekdays.
Up-to-date information on the plumbed water depths and fairway changes can be found on the Wadden Sea website. The situation is similar in neighbouring Denmark and the Netherlands. If you would like more detailed information, you will find the links to the area information pages at the bottom of this page.
Was that it? Almost! We still have a warning from the BfS: "From 16 April 2022 to 18 April 2022, the traditional Easter bonfire will take place on the entire west coast of Schleswig-Holstein. Light phenomena (fires) are to be expected." Well then: Happy Easter and a good start to the season!
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