Once round Rügen - that is undoubtedly a sailing adventure. Highlight among the German cruise destinations. However, anyone sailing from Warnemünde to Rügen or Hiddensee - or in the opposite direction - has to sail at least 50 nautical miles without a harbour. Only the Darßer Ort port of refuge can offer protection en route. Now, last Thursday (11 August), work began on the construction of a port of refuge in Prerow, as announced by the Ministry for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas and the Environment of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
In an unusual location at the end of a more than 700 metre long pier, an artificial stone peninsula is being carved out of the seabed to accommodate around 30 passing pleasure craft and local fishermen. It will also be the new home harbour of the rescue cruiser "Nis Randers", which was previously stationed in the Darßer Ort port of refuge. In emergencies, large ships will also be able to moor there. A complete marina infrastructure with sanitary facilities and a service building with a roof terrace is also planned. YACHT reported on the detailed plans back in 2018.
A restricted area was set up for the duration of the harbour construction, whose exact position is indicated by the messages for sailors Sailors have to keep a good half mile away from the coastline.
Long struggle for a solution
The start of construction marks the end of a long struggle for a harbour in the marina-poor region. Back in 2012, the Baltic seaside resort of Zingst came forward with plans to build a marina with 100 berths. The expected costs were estimated at 30 million euros at the time, but no financing concept could be found within the ministries at the time. A breakthrough into the Bodden waters and another harbour option in Prerow had also been considered in recent years, before a referendum in Prerow decided on the construction of the harbour in 2015. Planning permission has been in place since 2021.
Most recently, the project threatened to fail due to exploding costs and a delay in construction, as reported in this interview with an employee of the responsible ministry. However, the ministry is now optimistic that the harbour will be completed by the end of 2023. It puts the expected costs at 46.2 million euros. The project is being financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
End for the Darßer Ort port of refuge
The construction also heralds the end of the Darßer Ort port of refuge and harbour of refuge, which has been located in the core zone of the "Western Pomerania Lagoon National Park" since reunification and may only be called at in genuine emergencies. The sea rescue cruiser "Nis Randers" is also currently stationed at Darßer Ort - as long as access is free. Because again and again it silts up and must be dredged or vacuumed This is a costly endeavour that regularly leads to resentment among conservationists. And it jeopardises shipping: Time and again, the sea rescuers have to divert to Barhöft near Stralsund, a good 25 nautical miles away.
There is then a huge gap in the chain of rescue stations in the area of the busy and accident-prone Kadet Channel of all places: there is then no rescue cruiser stationed along a coastal zone of around 80 nautical miles. In the event of engine or rudder damage and in other dangerous situations, sailors and commercial shipping sometimes have to wait a fatally long time for help. The new sea rescue station in Prerow harbour, on the other hand, will be just two miles away from Darßer Ort and will be available all year round.
