After the municipality reached an agreement with the previous operator, Ostsee Resort Damp, on the cancellation of the marina's operating contract, Kurbetriebe Damp took over operations at the turn of the year. This paved the way for the redevelopment.
As recently as August, the negotiations appeared to have failed:
High demand for berths
Jetties A to D in Damper harbour had already been partially approved last year. Between 1 April and 31 October, around 100 berths will be available here again, according to Damp's mayor Barbara Feyock. The rest of the harbour with a further 265 berths will remain closed for the time being. It is expected to remain closed until the end of 2027, by which time it is hoped that the refurbishment work will be completed. The new operator hired a harbour master on 1 January. He has already received 62 applications for berths. According to the mayor, demand is high. Interested parties can make enquiries by emailing hafen@kurbetriebe-damp.de. Both permanent and day moorings are available. The slipway and crane are also available.
Change of operator made refurbishment possible
The Damper marina was released from the overall contract package concluded in 1970 at the turn of the year. This was the basis for the urgently needed renovation of the marina following the severe damage caused by the storm surge in October 2023. The harbour was almost destroyed in the storm surge of the century. Comprehensive refurbishment is required not only to restore it, but also to prepare it for future events of this kind. Plans include a new, higher outer pier. "We are delighted that the Damper marina will be available to boat owners in the region again in the foreseeable future," said Mayor Barbara Feyock and the Managing Director of Ostsee Resort Damp, Dr Erk Scheel. Ostsee Resort Damp was previously the operator of the harbour. This operatorship ended on 31 December 2024 and was transferred to the port owners. The harbour owners are Kurbetriebe Damp, a subsidiary of the municipality of Damp.
24 million euros for refurbishment
"We are delighted that the intensive negotiations over the past nine months have now come to a successful conclusion for both sides. We will do our utmost to support the new operator as well as the municipality and the spa facilities in their refurbishment project," said Scheel. The planned investment amounts to around 24 million euros. The municipality has submitted a funding application to the state of Schleswig-Holstein. As soon as funding is approved by the state, the EU-wide invitation to tender for the planners will be issued. According to Mayor Barbara Feyock, no response has yet been received. In the meantime, the harbour is being tidied up: since the beginning of the year, defective supply lines and components have been dismantled on the destroyed jetties and facilities. The next step is to remove the paving stones on the north side of the harbour that were thrown up by the flood.
