German North Sea and Baltic Sea: Offshore wind farms - navigation completely prohibited

The density of offshore wind farms is steadily increasing - also in Germany. In the German Bight in particular, there are already large contiguous areas with turbines in operation, under construction or at least in planning.

Exceptions are now history

When it comes to navigating wind farms at sea, the rules are not standardised internationally. Within their exclusive economic zones (EEZ), the respective coastal states are responsible. Even in Germany, there have recently been different regulations: While the navigation of most OWPs was already prohibited, there were still Exceptions in the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

This is now a thing of the past: these remaining gaps have also been closed: In several issues of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency's (BSH) Notices to Mariners (NfS), updated rulings on the relevant installations were published over the course of 2025.

The offshore wind farms affected

In the German EEZ in the North Sea, this involves the offshore wind farms "Nordsee Ost", "Dan Tysk", "Meerwind Süd/Ost" and "Butendiek". In addition, there are the "Borkum Riffgrund 3", "NC 1", "NC 2" and "He Dreiht" wind farms currently under construction.

In the Baltic Sea, "EnBW Baltic 1", "EnBW Baltic 2", "Wikinger" and "Arkona-Becken Südost" are affected, as well as the "Windanker" OWP, which is still at the planning stage. An overview of all news for sailors in 2025 can be found on the Internet on the corresponding page of the BSH.

Safe shipping as a justification

The general reason given is "security of shipping". However, the measure could also be a reaction to the increasing hybrid attacks on critical infrastructure and the general threat situation in the North Sea and Baltic Sea region since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

The closed areas, including those of the offshore wind farms mentioned, may only be used by vehicles "for research, construction, maintenance and supply" - or "for salvage and rescue purposes".