This mooring report is based on an online survey in which we contacted more than 200 harbours in Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. A total of 83 operators, from small sailing clubs to commercial marinas, provided detailed feedback on the situation at their harbours.
Statistical growth vs. perceived reality
The overall result indicates an increase in available permanent berths along the coast. Within the sample, the number rose from 419 to 486 berths between 2025 and 2026. A result that contradicts the perceived reality of many owners, who often spend several months looking for a suitable berth for their yacht.
This is because capacity utilisation in many marinas, particularly in the western Baltic Sea, remains at 100 percent and waiting lists are still long. This contradiction is reflected in the survey as a whole: overall, more than half of the marinas surveyed reported full occupancy for the coming season, although in total more vacancies were reported than in the previous year.
The reason for this is that the new capacities are limited to a few harbours, while in the broad masses, especially in Schleswig-Holstein, many are still fully booked.
The results of the YACHT survey in detail:
Large regional price differences
In addition to capacity, the survey also shows that the cost of a berth can vary greatly from region to region. For example, a berth in a marina can be significantly more expensive than a comparable berth in a nearby natural harbour. The range here can sometimes be between 20 and 70 euros per square metre. For a 12-metre yacht, this can make a difference of up to 1,750 euros per year. This also applies to guest berths. Here, too, there is a wide range of prices. They range from 14 to 40 euros per night.
More about the mooring situation on the Baltic Sea:
Moorings on the Baltic Sea: Mr Stahlhut, is the all-clear for the jetties?
Berths on the Baltic Sea: Ports under pressure despite full capacity utilisation - the situation in Kiel
Baltic Sea harbours 2026: More berths in MV - but not everywhere
Baltic Sea harbours 2026: Search for berths in SH requires patience
This is partly due to the fact that maintenance costs for jetties and sanitary facilities are also higher, especially for large marinas, which tend to be more expensive. The economic success of marinas is therefore increasingly dependent on a stable mixed calculation in which services on land have to compensate for the deficit in the water.
The prices for berths in detail:
Infrastructure and service check
In theory, the Baltic Sea harbours offer sufficient options in terms of facilities. With an average box width of 4.80 metres and an average water depth of 2.60 metres, most cruising yachts should have no problem finding a box in the majority of ports. The same applies to the maximum boat length, which offers sufficient space at an average of 16 metres.
More on the topic:
According to our data, the infrastructure is also well developed along the entire German Baltic coast. Almost three quarters of the harbours (74.7%) have a mast crane and 87% offer food facilities within easy reach. The situation is different when it comes to digitalisation: Less than half of all the harbours we surveyed (41%) have a ticket machine in operation, and there is still room for improvement here. There are also differences in the calculation of ancillary costs: While fresh water (81.0%) and shore power (78.5%) are usually included in the mooring fee, sailors have to pay extra for the use of sanitary facilities in almost one in three harbours (31.6%).
David Ingelfinger
Volontär
