Firing ranges: Caution on the Baltic Sea: increased naval manoeuvre exercises

Large-scale naval firing exercises will be taking place in the Bay of Kiel until the end of June. The training area extends from Eckernförde Bay to Schleimünde and across the Danish border into Marstal Bay. The area is not marked on the nautical chart - unlike the Arkona and Pomeranian Bight firing ranges, where training will also take place until the end of the month. All exercises take place day and night. There are light signals and warning buoys, but no barriers. Detailed information can be found in the official " Notices to mariners ". The Navy would like to point out that it is a criminal offence to enter restricted areas without prior notification. Otherwise, the collision avoidance rules apply to everyone. Whether there will be major military exercises elsewhere in the Baltic Sea in the near future in view of the war in Ukraine "cannot be answered at present", said a navy spokesperson.

These exercises include the Manoeuvre Baltops which is currently receiving increased coverage, probably due to the timing of the event in relation to the war in Ukraine. It takes place from 7 to 15 June, but is held annually; this will be the 51st edition with over 45 ships and more than 75 aircraft. It is being organised by Sweden this time, so there may be restrictions on sailing to Sweden.