From Flensburg to Greifswald: Developments in the harbours on the German coast
News from the harbours from Flensburg to Lübeck
1. flensburg, 2nd Fahrensodde, 3rd Glücksburg, 4. bockholmwik, 5. wackerballig, 6. Geltingmole, 7. slime gulch, 8 Maasholm, 9th Kappeln, 10. arnis, 11th Lindaunis, 12th Missunde, 13. Schleswig, 14 Olpenitz, 15. steam, 16th Eckernförde, 17 Strande, 18 Schilksee, 19 Laboe, 20 Fehmarn, 21 Großenbrode, 22nd Grömitz, 23 Niendorf, 24 Travemünde, 25 Lübeck
1st Flensburg
On the fjord, it probably hit the harbour of the sailing club Flensburg-Harrislee was the worst. High water and swell washed over the natural stone jetty and sank 13 yachts, completely destroying jetty 1. The result: around 1.5 million euros in damage. "Reconstruction work is currently underway," explains Chairman Lutz Kätow. "Parts of the jetties had to be completely rebuilt, and now new electricity and water columns are being added." The harbour should at least be ready to dock again at the beginning of May. The question is what will happen to the jetty in front of the harbour. Kätow: "Stones have to be salvaged and re-piled. And it has to be clear how much they can be raised to make the facility future-proof." The association is hoping for the state's hardship regulation mentioned above.
In the Marina Gallwik However, all the flood damage has been repaired. A James Farm shop is moving into the former "Genusswerk" restaurant. There you will find farm products ranging from salami to black cumin camembert. A glass bakery from the Joldelund bakery and a craft beer brewery shop will also set up shop. Events are also planned.
In Flensburg City harbour everything is working again at the Jaich marina. Only the municipal pier opposite, to the south of the museum shipyard, has sunk a good 50 metres in length, presumably as a result of the storm surge. For safety reasons, a long section of the west bank was closed. The ships taking part in the Rum Regatta will therefore have to take a different route this year. The city is expecting a costly clean-up programme worth millions, which is also likely to take quite some time.
2nd Fahrensodde
The harbour of the Flensburg Sailing Association has now repaired the 100,000 euro damage to the jetties, but work is still ongoing on the electricity and water connections. They should be finished in the course of May. "We are very lucky that our members include many craftsmen. So we were able to repair a lot of things quickly and cheaply ourselves," reports Chairman Marcus Ott. A great achievement by the members, the beautiful harbour already looks cosy again. Better Wi-Fi was also installed and the slipway was made safer with new brackets on the sides.
3rd Glücksburg
The members of the Flensburg Sailing Club were able to save their facility during the night of the storm. The floating bridge in particular was in danger of drifting away. There was only minor damage, but the electrical system was partially destroyed. This year, it will only function via an emergency power supply. Some outages and longer cable runs are to be expected. A complete renewal is due in 2025 anyway. The plan is to switch from the previous flat rate to billing cards.
4. bockholmwik
The island-like harbour was badly hit by the storm. The connections between the jetties broke, electricity and water pipes ruptured and the damage totalled over 300,000 euros. Work is still ongoing and the jetties will probably be usable again in the course of May. However, water and electricity will probably not be available again until June, according to the harbour master.
5. wackerballig
After the popular island harbour restaurant "Wackerpulco" had to remain closed in 2023 due to a lack of tenants, it is now finally open again. Sailors can enjoy the uniquely beautiful sunsets with a drink in their hand and a good meal. But above all: there is still eight free berths for boats from eight to nine metres in length! Info: marina-wackerballig.com
6. Geltingmole
Here too, the damage totalled around 300,000 euros. Two footbridges were replaced over a length of around 50 metres. Piles, bollards, power columns - the list was long. Large stones on the outer pier have been displaced by the swell. They will be lifted and replaced over the course of the season.
7. slime gulch
Thanks to the tireless work of the operators, many donations - almost 100,000 euros! - and voluntary work, the popular harbour will be open from May. 150 tonnes of rock and 400 cubic metres of sand had to be moved to protect the harbour and houses to some extent. However, the "poison shack" will not be open this year, and in future it will no longer offer hot food. Only the harbour master's office and the small shop are currently in operation. The Schleswiger Anstalten are considering whether a catering service of some kind with cakes or cold dishes is possible. However, this should not be expected. Water and sewage pipes have been laid again. The showers are not quite ready yet, but they should be finished soon. The steamer jetty is not yet usable again and the damaged path to the lighthouse remains closed for the time being. Electricity should be back at the moorings by mid-May. The barbecue area has already been prepared.
8 Maasholm
Work on the harbour is in full swing and the jetties are being rebuilt from scratch; they are being fitted with brand new supply pillars. The two jetties in the east were already covered with plastic panels. All defective stern piles have been replaced. As the material deliveries are sometimes incomplete or delayed, the reopening cannot be reliably predicted. At the end of April, the official route for the permanent berths looked like this: Jetties B, D, E, G, H and I are almost complete and will be available - along with electricity and water - from the beginning of May. Jetties A and C have to be completely renovated and will probably not be released until the end of May. Jetty F is expected to be dismantled in May and then rebuilt. If the work proceeds according to plan, they will be opened in August. Maasholm will not be open to guest moorings again until 1 June.
9th Kappeln
After the team of the Scalar troop at Henningsen & Steckmest 120 cubic metres of washed-up seaweed and 40 cubic metres of driftwood were removed from the facility, around 50,000 euros worth of damage to the harbour house and jetties was repaired. The crane had to be replaced, which can now lift 20 tonnes and is now better suited to removing yachts with upright masts from the water.
Anchor Yachting had to completely renovate the flooded sanitary facilities after the flood so that everything would be up and running again for the start of the season. The electrics were also damaged and will be back up and running for the season.
The floods in the City harbour The sanitary facilities, which were flooded, have been completely renovated and all supply columns and bridge sections have been restored.
Important for Schlei sailors is the new opening time of the Kappeln bascule bridge: It opens five minutes earlier than usual, always 20 minutes before the hour.
Shortly behind it is the very pretty "Seagull" café, which was only completed in 2023. Findersen shipyard including the large terrace was opened in time for the start of the season despite water damage. The small harbour has also been restored.
10. arnis
The cable ferry is still not running and it is uncertain when it will resume.
11th Lindaunis
The temporary pedestrian and cycle bridge has been in operation since April. It opens every half hour from 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.: first for ten minutes in the direction of Kappeln, then in the direction of Schleswig. Pay attention to the traffic lights! Yet another snafu: in the middle of the work and planning, Deutsche Bahn has changed its guidelines for bridges. The Lindaunis project has to be adapted and put out to tender again. Completion of the bridge will probably be delayed well beyond 2025.
12th Missunde
The story about the new, high-rise electric solar ferry, which can no longer moor safely even in medium crosswinds, is a laughing stock on the coast. The sinfully expensive vehicle is now to be overhauled. The responsible authority therefore had to save the old ferry, which had already been sold, from being scrapped and put back into operation at a hefty surcharge of almost 33,000 euros.
13. Schleswig
In Wiking harbour, one of the capsized houseboats is still lying keel up in the marina, blocking four berths. There is a dispute with the owner, who was probably not insured and is not in a position to pay for the costly salvage operation. The owner of the harbour now wants to organise this himself in the near future. However, the harbour can be called at as normal. The final work on the electricity and water supply should be completed in May.
14 Olpenitz
The Hamburg marina operator is expanding the marina with new jetties directly at the large travellift and mast crane, adding another long floating jetty with 70 berths. The last jetties and piles are currently being installed. According to the owner, the berths have not yet been allocated. This will begin as soon as the work has been completed. At the end of April, it looked as if this could still be the case in early summer. Anyone still looking for a pitch: www.hafenolpenitz.com. On land, the large construction site with holiday flats is currently at a standstill. The property developer Helma has filed for insolvency. It is currently unclear what will happen next.
15. steam
The municipal harbour is the last major problem child on the coast. The devastation caused by the storm was by far the worst there. This was followed by coordination difficulties between the municipality, which owns the harbour, and the operator, the Vamed Group, which also runs the clinic at the harbour. The aim is for the lease to be cancelled, the municipality to renovate the harbour with the support of state funds for around 13 million euros and then put it out to tender for lease again. This already includes a significant increase in the height of the breakwater from the current 1.7 to 3.4 metres.
An interim solution envisaged by the municipality and the local Damp yacht service was to open the harbour at least partially, initially with around 100 berths. A favourable expert opinion has already been received. However, the lack of an agreement with the previous tenant stands in the way of this. At present, the yacht service is at least allowed to crane and rig the owners' boats from winter storage. After that, however, the owners have to take their yachts out of the harbour immediately. In short, the permanent berth holders have so far been left out in the cold.
In the meantime, Damp's mayor Barbara Feyock has stated that it will not be possible to restore full harbour operations for two years. This is bitter news for over 400 affected owners.
16th Eckernförde
The Eckernförde Sailing Club was very unlucky in winter: As the club harbour was to be completely rebuilt, all the yachts were already out of the water before the heavy October storm so that the demolition work could begin. As a result, there was no damage whatsoever. What's more, the brand new, chic facility has now been completely converted to floating docks and is therefore equipped for higher water levels in the future! Everything looks brand new, the clubhouse was renovated in 2023 and is currently being fitted with a conservatory. So everything is ready for the big 125th anniversary next year!
17 Strande
The power supply at the jetties has been renewed, the sanitary facilities that were full during the flood have been completely overhauled and the range of the Wi-Fi has been improved.
18 Schilksee
All the pontoons are usable, only two are still being worked on electrically. Otherwise, it's full speed ahead towards Kiel Week. The stone jetty in front of the harbour will be upgraded during the course of the season so that it reaches its former height. However, a further increase in height to protect against future flood disasters cannot yet be realised. However, the state's funding promises give us hope. Sporthafen Kiel GmbH has had to postpone other planned work for this multi-million euro project. And raise prices: As in many harbours, guest berths will pay ten percent more.
19 Laboe
In the Municipal harbour two walkways were covered with new GRP perforated panels. More will follow in winter: The central jetty, where the sea rescue cruiser is moored, will be completely renovated and then a new sheet pile wall will be erected on the outside. The fishing huts on the old jetty will be regrouped for this purpose.
In the Baltic Bay Marina berths can also be booked in advance via the "Boatpark" app from this year. What is new is that the offer for winter berths is being expanded. Around 70 boats remained in the water recently. If there is a risk of ice, oxygen bubble systems will be installed around the boats to prevent them from freezing. The sanitary facilities will also be open all year round from now on.
20. island of Fehmarn
The harbour of the Schaich shipyard on Fehmarn Sound is being modernised bit by bit. On land, the car parks have been moved further inland from the harbour so that the previously somewhat desolate gravel area can now be used for greenery, a barbecue area and more. Depending on the size of the boat, there are still five to ten permanent berths available in the harbour!
In Burgtiefe jetty 1 has been renovated and a bicycle car park has been built. Permanent berth holders and visitors can now safely store high-quality bikes and e-bikes in the car park.
21 Großenbrode
The large inland lake with three marinas along its shores has become the scene of a small miracle: The devastated harbour of the Großenbrode Yacht Club was published in a solidarity of the members in their own labour restored in time for the start of the season. The jetties have also been raised. Parts of the infrastructure can now also be dismantled at short notice so that the expensive hardware can be saved if the worst comes to the worst.
Next door in the Marina Großenbrode the outer large jetty, where the longer charter yachts from Mola were moored, has not yet been restored. The work will continue, but the rest of the harbour will not be affected. On the other hand, it is pleasing that after a year's break, the catering in the "Krähennest" has a tenant again: Pizzas and pasta dishes are the main items on the menu.
In the Großenbrode water sports centre there was less damage. The sanitary facilities were completely rebuilt in winter. They now offer more comfort and there is also a washing machine and tumble dryer. In addition, a number of alongside berths have been set up for guests.
The access road to the lake was silted up in the storm and is currently being dredged. The dredged material will then be used to refill the beach next to the lake.
22nd Grömitz
New for the season is the newly opened "Hafencorner" café, which is a bakery and café in the morning, a snack bar at lunchtime and also houses a small supermarket. It is open from 7 am to 5 pm. The harbour access road, which was somewhat silted up by the storm, has now been dredged.
23 Niendorf
The pretty club harbour of the Niendorf sailing club completed its refurbished sanitary facilities in autumn 2023 - something guests are sure to appreciate.
24 Travemünde
In the Passat harbour the gradual renovation of the jetties, which has been going on for several years, has now been completed. All of the wooden piles, some of which were damaged, have been replaced with narrower metal piles with a plastic coating. A floating stage has also been anchored in front of the large "Slow Down" hotel. It is used every Friday evening in summer for live music events on the water.
Travelling slightly upwards, the Böbs shipyard completed an extension to the harbour. The result is a new jetty with 47 berths, which went into operation for the season. Unfortunately, all the new berths are already occupied; the waiting list was long. As part of the extension, new sanitary facilities were also put into operation in the building next to the crane.
25 Lübeck
The Newport Marina on the edge of the old town is extending the jetty facilities in front of the cranes in a north-easterly direction to behind the media docks. 27 berths on floating jetties are being built there and are expected to go into operation in May or early June. Attention, there are Permanent places still available: the.newport.de. Another new feature is a second access to the floating service building via a gangway. And: Newport Marina is also becoming increasingly popular as a wintering harbour.
News from the harbours from Prerow to Greifswald
26 Prerow, 27th Zingst, 28 Stralsund, 29 Lohme, 30th Sellin, 31 Lauterbach, 32nd Gustow, 33rd Neuhof, 34 Greifswald
26 Prerow
After Darßer Ort was closed in autumn 2023, the island port of Prerow was supposed to go into operation as a replacement for the emergency port at the start of the season in April. According to the state, this did not work out due to many winter storms. The harbour is currently still undergoing intensive construction work. Yacht crews therefore currently have to complete the 50 nautical mile stretch between Rostock and Barhöft in one go. The island harbour is not expected to be completed until mid-July. This means that skippers of small crews in particular need to plan well and keep a close eye on the weather on the Darß. YACHT was on site at the end of April. Access to the pier, which juts out around 700 metres into the Baltic Sea, was still closed at the time, the harbour's rock filling was finished and the harbour and sanitary building was still under construction. The jetty also still had to be covered and the supply pillars installed. The stern piles had also not been driven.
27th Zingst
The ageing water hiking harbour in Zingster Bodden is being renovated at a cost of around twelve million euros: New jetties with 37 guest berths, a viewing platform, a playground, a steamer bridge, a redesigned harbour environment - the list is long. The construction work is progressing well, with an opening planned for the summer. Until then, crews will have to switch to neighbouring harbours.
28 Stralsund
In the City harbour the flood damage has been repaired and everything is back to normal. Recently, guests have been able to book berths in advance via the Scandinavian app "Dockspot" for a surcharge and thus secure their place. The construction of the sanitary facilities in the Marina at the Schwedenschanze, which is supervised by the harbour masters in Stralsund.
Island of Rügen
29 Lohme
In the entrance to the harbour, which is spectacularly and idyllically situated on the steep cliffs, a large stone slipped as a result of the winter storms. It now lies at the edge of the harbour entrance and narrows it by around three metres. It protrudes about 1.5 metres out of the water. It is therefore important to be careful when approaching the harbour. In addition, the north jetty of the harbour is currently closed as parts of the jetty are being renovated. Work will be carried out on both areas from May. Everything should be repaired by the beginning of June. Until then, skippers are advised to call the harbour master (038302/909 09) before setting sail and enquire about the status of access and available berths.
30 Sellin
A new barbecue area has been set up at the water hiking rest area. Live music now takes place on a floating pontoon every Monday from 7 pm. Barbecued food and drinks are also available to buy.
31 Lauterbach
The flood damage in the pretty harbour with its floating and pile houses has all been repaired. There are still permanent berths available - and a special offer for Im-Jaich customers from other marinas: if you are moored in one of the group's marinas, you can try out the permanent berth in Lauterbach or Gustow for a season. If you don't like it, you can switch back to your old harbour.
32nd Gustow
The harbour has been given a stylish sauna building for the holiday homes, which visitors to the harbour can also use. There are three different saunas including a view of the water. A visit costs 15 euros per person. Also new: the harbour's bistro has reopened and now also offers food. Previously, it only served drinks, and even then only with restrictions.
33rd Neuhof
The marina on the Strelasund still has places available for smaller centreboard boats or motor yachts following the conversion of a jetty. Unfortunately, the harbour restaurant remains closed this year, as once again no tenant has been found. However, there is still the popular fish snack bar in the angler's shop just behind the marina.
34 Greifswald
Following the departure of a charter fleet, the marina on the Ryck has released 20 berths for permanent berths on the pontoons concerned. As a result, there will be fewer guest berths available this year. If you want to be on the safe side, enquire with the harbour master and reserve a place before calling at the marina (0162/219 40 52).
Following a change of card provider, the 24-hour petrol station has been working reliably since this season. The limit is 150 euros. If you want to fill up with more diesel, you can simply fill up twice.
