Special

Distress at sea

- The storm surge on 21 October 2023 caused severe damage in the Baltic Sea, with yachts sinking and jetties destroyed, particularly in Kiel-Schilksee.
- Port director Philipp Mühlenhardt recounts some dramatic hours, how a major disaster was narrowly averted, and the difficulties of returning from holiday.
- During the reconstruction, the process was characterised by costs, red tape, time pressure and criticism; at the same time, there was a great deal of willingness to help, and questions arose regarding port security today.

New podcast episode: The 2023 Baltic Sea storm surge – millions in damage, lessons learnt and the outlook

- Damage to Kiel’s marina facilities following the 2023 storm surge was quickly repaired, but issues relating to flood defences and the processing of grant applications remain unresolved in some cases.  
- In Schleswig, the jetty at the Wiking Marina is being raised and the crane work brought forward to provide better structural and organisational protection against storm surges.  
- In Schleimünde, the marina is once again operational, but the jetty remains damaged and its renovation, as well as the future of the original ‘Giftbude’, remain unresolved.

In the wake of the Baltic Sea storm surge: What is still preoccupying Kiel, Schleswig and Schleimünde

- On 20 October 2023, an exceptionally long and powerful easterly storm caused the worst Baltic Sea storm surge in some areas since 1872, with over 150 yachts sinking.  
- Numerous harbours in Germany and Denmark, particularly Kiel-Schilksee, Damp, Maasholm and Schleswig, suffered massive damage to boats and infrastructure.  
- Complex salvage operations, high insurance and reconstruction costs, and protracted harbour restoration work characterise the consequences and lessons learnt for owners and operators.

The 2023 Baltic Sea storm surge: The night the Baltic Sea ravaged the harbours

- A historic gaff-rigged sailing vessel suffered a breakdown off the coast following an engine failure and water ingress, whilst facing waves up to three metres high.
- The sea-rescue cruiser ‘Hermann Marwede’ and two auxiliary boats towed the vessel, which was unable to manoeuvre, safely into Cuxhaven marina.
- Several previous operations off Heligoland: rescue of a sailor suffering from hypothermia, towing of a yacht following engine failure, and salvage following a broken mast.

Distress at sea: Sailing cutter suffers engine failure and takes on water in the North Sea

- GNSS disruptions caused by jamming and spoofing distort position and time, affect navigation, AIS and GMDSS, and can lead to life-threatening errors.  
- AIS-MOB, EPIRBs and PLBs may transmit incorrect distress positions if GNSS signals are tampered with; 406 MHz beacons allow for partially independent positioning.  
- Combining an AIS-MOB with a 406 MHz PLB/EPIRB and traditional navigation methods enhances safety, as different means of location and alerting are utilised.

GPS disruptions: British authorities warn of consequences for sea rescue operations

- A single-handed sailor in the Salzhaff drifts into shallow water after his anchor breaks in gusts of up to eight Beaufort and alerts the DGzRS.
- Due to rough seas, the rescue boat ‘Wolfgang Wiese’ takes almost an hour and a half to reach the yacht, rather than the expected 20 minutes.
- Rescuers brought the sailor ashore in poor visibility; the yacht was later towed free so that he could make his way to a nearby harbour.

Sea rescue in the Salzhaff: Anchor slips in strong winds, solo sailor rescued

- A solo sailor runs aground on Scarweather Sands in the Bristol Channel; the yacht takes on a lot of water and sinks despite a swift RNLI rescue.  
- The skipper was unable to use VHF radio but, upon being instructed to do so, fired a red signal flare using his mobile phone, enabling the lifeboat ‘Rose Of The Shires’ to locate him.  
- The RNLI praised the skipper’s preparedness, noting his use of multiple emergency communication methods and safety equipment, and highlighted the dangerous tides in the Bristol Channel.

Sea rescue: Signal flare guides rescuers to sinking yacht

- Skipper admits to smuggling cocaine (263.73 kg) from Colombia to Europe on a sailing yacht; a staged accident in the North Sea had been planned.  
- Wife denies any knowledge of the drugs; the prosecution has its doubts; The cargo was intended to be handed over to several buyers in Europe and Turkey.  
- The yacht was intercepted off the Azores in 2025 during Operation ‘Albus’; there was a history of technical problems, a previous failed drug shipment and debts.

Cocaine trial: Skipper describes plan for staged shipwreck

- Off Coronado, California, a sailor trapped in his flooded cabin is rescued by helicopter and lifeguards.  
- In 2026, the Atlantic hurricane season is unusually quiet (just one hurricane, ACE 18), whilst the eastern and central Pacific are highly active.  
- El Niño dampens hurricane activity in the Atlantic through increased wind shear, whilst at the same time fuelling cyclones in the eastern and central Pacific.

Hurricanes 2026: Dramatic rescue off the coast of California – El Niño shapes the storm season

- A Lagoon 42 sank in the Indian Ocean after the glazing on a retrofitted Goiot emergency escape hatch came loose; the skipper was rescued.
- Despite a recall and retrofitting programme since 2019, the cause of the failure, as well as the age and condition of the hatch in question, remain unclear in this latest case.
- There have now been a total of three total losses involving Lagoon catamarans linked to defective Goiot emergency escape hatches; hatches are to be replaced after ten years.

Distress at sea: Lagoon 42 sinks despite retrofitted emergency hatch

- Laboratory and field tests show that the LED has a higher luminous intensity and better visibility; both exceed the minimum requirement.
- In three out of four North Sea trials, despite lower luminous intensity, the incandescent lamp was detected from a greater distance than the LED.
- It is suspected that spray and waves have a wavelength-dependent effect on the LED light; further trials by BSH and DGzRS are planned.

Search at sea: Lifejacket lights put to the test

- Two waterspouts made landfall near Marsala as tornadoes, causing severe damage and leaving several people injured, some of them in schools and residential buildings.  
- This was caused by highly unstable air masses over an unusually warm Mediterranean; the whole of Sicily was under a severe weather warning with further thunderstorms expected.  
- These events form part of a series of violent Mediterranean storms and demonstrate that harbours are not always safe havens in every weather situation.

Severe weather over Marsala: a pair of tornadoes hits Sicily

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Distress at sea

New podcast episode
The 2023 Baltic Sea storm surge – millions in damage, lessons learnt and the outlook

In the wake of the Baltic Sea storm surge
What is still preoccupying Kiel, Schleswig and Schleimünde

The 2023 Baltic Sea storm surge
The night the Baltic Sea ravaged the harbours

Distress at sea
Sailing cutter suffers engine failure and takes on water in the North Sea

GPS disruptions
British authorities warn of consequences for sea rescue operations

Sea rescue in the Salzhaff
Anchor slips in strong winds, solo sailor rescued

Sea rescue
Signal flare guides rescuers to sinking yacht

Cocaine trial
Skipper describes plan for staged shipwreck

Hurricanes 2026
Dramatic rescue off the coast of California – El Niño shapes the storm season

Distress at sea
Lagoon 42 sinks despite retrofitted emergency hatch

Search at sea
Lifejacket lights put to the test

Severe weather over Marsala
A pair of tornadoes hits Sicily

Distress at sea

New podcast episodeThe 2023 Baltic Sea storm surge – millions in damage, lessons learnt and the outlook

In the wake of the Baltic Sea storm surgeWhat is still preoccupying Kiel, Schleswig and Schleimünde

The 2023 Baltic Sea storm surgeThe night the Baltic Sea ravaged the harbours

Distress at seaSailing cutter suffers engine failure and takes on water in the North Sea

GPS disruptionsBritish authorities warn of consequences for sea rescue operations

Sea rescue in the SalzhaffAnchor slips in strong winds, solo sailor rescued

Sea rescueSignal flare guides rescuers to sinking yacht

Cocaine trialSkipper describes plan for staged shipwreck

Hurricanes 2026Dramatic rescue off the coast of California – El Niño shapes the storm season

Distress at seaLagoon 42 sinks despite retrofitted emergency hatch

Search at seaLifejacket lights put to the test

Severe weather over MarsalaA pair of tornadoes hits Sicily

New podcast episode
The 2023 Baltic Sea storm surge – millions in damage, lessons learnt and the outlook

In the wake of the Baltic Sea storm surge
What is still preoccupying Kiel, Schleswig and Schleimünde

The 2023 Baltic Sea storm surge
The night the Baltic Sea ravaged the harbours

Distress at sea
Sailing cutter suffers engine failure and takes on water in the North Sea

GPS disruptions
British authorities warn of consequences for sea rescue operations

Sea rescue in the Salzhaff
Anchor slips in strong winds, solo sailor rescued

Sea rescue
Signal flare guides rescuers to sinking yacht

Cocaine trial
Skipper describes plan for staged shipwreck

Hurricanes 2026
Dramatic rescue off the coast of California – El Niño shapes the storm season

Distress at sea
Lagoon 42 sinks despite retrofitted emergency hatch

Search at sea
Lifejacket lights put to the test

Severe weather over Marsala
A pair of tornadoes hits Sicily