In the wake of the Baltic Sea storm surge: What is still preoccupying Kiel, Schleswig and Schleimünde
Following the Baltic Sea storm surge in October 2023, the main priority at Kiel’s marina facilities was to restore the damaged facilities to working order as quickly as possible. Kiel Week set a firm deadline for this. According to Philipp Mühlenhardt, managing director of Sporthafen Kiel GmbH, Kiel’s harbours were among those that were restored particularly quickly. Three years on, however, the reconstruction is still not fully complete. And the repairs have not resolved all the issues regarding protection against the next storm surge.
The Damage caused by the Baltic Sea storm surge affected numerous ports. Mühlenhardt saw the opportunities offered by a fundamental overhaul at a meeting of port stakeholders in Nykøbing, Denmark. The programme included a tour of Hesnæs. The local authority had the Reopening of Hesnæs Harbour announced for summer 2026 and unveiled a more robust system. “They’ve really made a difference there,” says Mühlenhardt.
Schilksee: Quick repairs rather than a major refurbishment
In Schilksee, Sporthafen Kiel GmbH initially focused on the bare essentials. The stone jetty was raised. According to Mühlenhardt, fundamental changes that could offer greater safety in the event of another storm surge are still pending. The Reconstruction of Damp Harbour shows a different approach.
Find out more Read more here: New plans for Damp Marina
Mühlenhardt does not consider a similar refurbishment to be feasible in Schilksee given the time constraints at the time.
A blessing in disguise
He explains, using the mooring posts as an example, just how narrowly further damage to the floating jetties was averted. A so-called ‘post lock’ guides the floating jetty along the post. If the water level rises above its usable height, the jetty can lose its guidance.
“Looking back, we were also a bit lucky that the floodwaters weren’t ten centimetres higher,” says Mühlenhardt. In his estimation, it would have taken just five to ten centimetres for the jetties to have been submerged above the piles. One possible adaptation therefore under consideration is to extend the support posts by welding on additional sections. According to him, fixed jetties have already been raised by 20 centimetres. However, he does not see this as a permanent solution: “That won’t last forever.”
Floating jetties would have meant long closures
There are still fixed jetties in the South Harbour. According to Mühlenhardt, converting these to floating jetties would have required new mooring posts and a clearance operation to remove unexploded ordnance. The impact on harbour operations would have been considerable.
“Installing new piles would have required a munitions clearance operation. That would have meant that parts of the harbour could not have been used for three to four years,” he says. In his view, this would also have called into question whether Kiel Week could have gone ahead. For that reason, the decision was initially made to simply repair the existing facilities.
Funding: The clean-up following the Baltic Sea storm surge is still ongoing
In addition to the construction work, Sporthafen Kiel GmbH is responsible for administering the grant. According to Mühlenhardt, the funding guidelines for the repair work were not published until March 2024. By then, the work in Schilksee was already well advanced.
“However, looking back, there were criteria of which we, as a private company, were unaware,” he says. The rapid repair therefore had to be meticulously documented retrospectively and processed in accordance with funding regulations.
Repair work in Wellingdorf is also not yet complete. An embankment there gave way during the storm surge. The project involves the clearance of unexploded ordnance and the installation of a new sheet pile wall. Mühlenhardt estimates the costs at 1.6 million euros. According to him, Sporthafen Kiel GmbH is covering 25 per cent of this, whilst the state of Schleswig-Holstein is covering 75 per cent.
The prospect of the Olympics is influencing port planning
According to Mühlenhardt, the bid to host the Olympics also plays a part in further investment in Schilksee. A new, taller breakwater is under discussion. However, the planning is intended to ensure that structures do not have to be modified again at a later date to meet any potential Olympic requirements.
“You don’t want to do the same thing twice,” he explains. The prospect of additional investment in infrastructure therefore makes it more difficult to decide which measures should be implemented independently of that.
Schleswig: Higher quay and earlier unloading
At the Wiking Marina in Schleswig, owner Björn Hansen is taking additional structural precautions. In an interview with YACHT, he explains the planned reinforcement of the existing jetty using more than 2,000 tonnes of stone. This is set to raise the jetty by around half a metre and reduce the impact of waves entering the harbour.
Hansen also wants to shorten the time vessels spend in the water at the end of the season. He suggests 1 October as an earlier date for lifting boats out of the water, rather than the usual 15 October. In doing so, he aims to make boat owners more aware of the risk of storm surges. In his view, there were still too many boats in the water during the storm surge in October 2023.
His approach therefore covers both structural protection and the organisation of the end of the season. A higher breakwater alone does not, in fact, guarantee complete protection against damage.
Schleimünde: Port operations restored, but the jetty is still damaged
According to Marc Müller, chairman of the Friends of the Schleimünde Natural Waterway Recreation Area, the jetties and electricity supply in Schleimünde had already been restored by 2024. New electricity points and repaired jetties made the marina usable again.
The jetties belong to the Friends’ Association. According to Müller, their ongoing, phased renovation is no longer intended to repair storm surge damage, but rather to address normal wear and tear. The ongoing work is being funded from port revenues. The association looks after the site during regular volunteer days. The volunteers have also made the path to the lighthouse passable again.
The disruption lasted longer for pleasure boat services. According to Müller, the boats did not operate from Schleimünde in 2024 and only resumed service in August 2025, once the jetty in Kappeln had been completed. The restoration of the marina and the subsequent return of the passenger boats were therefore separate stages.
The question of repairing the damaged jetty remains unresolved. The damage is particularly severe on the side facing Olpenitz, says Müller. On the stone jetty towards Maasholm, around 50 metres would also need to be refilled to improve protection against scouring and wave action. Due to the costs involved, the aim is to carry out the work jointly with Damp or Maasholm. According to him, it is still unclear when the work will begin.
‘Little Poison Shop’ in the harbour master’s office
The original refreshment kiosk was severely damaged during the Baltic Sea storm surge. According to Müller, the owner, the Lighthouse Foundation, has not continued with the previous project. The Friends’ Association has rented the harbour master’s office and the toilet facilities.
Catering is now provided by the ‘Lütte Giftbude’ in the harbour master’s office. Among other things, they serve tarte flambée, pizza and fish rolls. This means there are catering options available once again, even though the future of the original Giftbude remains uncertain.
Fabian Boerger
Editor News & Panorama