Lower Elbe: State sailing associations decide on action alliance against siltation

State sailing associations in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein work closely together in the fight against siltation in harbours

In future, the actions of the two organisations representing the interests of sailors from Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein against the siltation of the harbours along the Lower Elbe and the Mühlenberger Loch are to be coordinated even more closely. The aim is to generate enough money for the local clubs to dredge the harbours, which are heavily silted up as a result of the deepening of the Elbe, through funding measures and to ensure the permanent, long-term use of the harbours.

• Lower Elbe: Sailors fight against the silting up of their harbours

Fight for subsidies and compensation payments

During a panel discussion at the Hamburg Yacht Festival in Wedel on 7 September 2024, the dilemma facing marinas in the battle for funding and compensation payments was explained in detail to the interested audience, most of whom were themselves affected by the impending loss of their sailing area.

"Compensation payments are made by the City of Hamburg, but some of these cannot be utilised due to the state borders," explains Oliver Kosanke, Chairman of the Hamburg Sailing Association. "For the past four years, the harbours on the Tidal Elbe have received annual funding from the Elbe Fund Foundation. The new guideline supports Schleswig-Holstein marinas once every three years with a possible 10% higher funding amount. However, double funding is excluded. This means that the funding agreed between Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein will not reach the clubs concerned."

Protest action against the Baltic Sea National Park as a model

Together with his colleague Jan-Dirk Tenge, Chairman of the Schleswig-Holstein Sailing Association, he will now present the precarious situation of water sports enthusiasts to the Committee for Co-operation between the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg. "In addition to our lobbying work for all water sports enthusiasts, it is immensely important that those affected also draw attention to the threat to their sailing area with creative, media-effective campaigns," emphasises Tenge. "During the protests against the Baltic Sea National Park, we saw what well organised protests can achieve." The northern federal state is very popular with sailors from Hamburg, with over a third of the berths in the harbours and marinas being used by sailors from Hamburg.

"Grassroots sport must take place on your own doorstep"

The two state associations are receiving support in their fight against the sludge from the Schleswig-Holstein State Sports Association (LSV) and the Hamburg Sports Association (HSB). "Grassroots sport must take place on our own doorstep; only those who can train a broad range of athletes can produce a high-performance elite," said Barbara Ostmeier, Chairwoman of the LSV's Grassroots Sport Committee. "It's 'five to twelve' on the Elbe, if we don't act now, we will lose the Lower Elbe sailing area."

Unlike in Hamburg, sailing is a focal sport in Schleswig-Holstein alongside rowing and beach volleyball and is supported accordingly by the state. Major sailing events such as Kiel Week and Travemünde Week - organised with significant support from Hamburg clubs - not only offer top-class sailing sport every year, but also generate high sales tax revenues for the state budget. In the maritime Hanseatic city on the Elbe, however, sailing is just one of many sports and receives no special funding from the city budget. The low status of sailing in Hamburg is also reflected in the lack of support for sailors in the fight against siltation at the Mühlenberger Loch training area.

Bergmann/Wille success story cannot be repeated

"Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille, who learnt to sail on the Elbe at the Mühlenberger Segel-Club and made it to the Olympic Games together in the 49erFX, are an inspiration for the next generation of sailors," says Maarten Malczak, Head of Communications and Marketing at HSB "If the Mühlenberger Loch continues to silt up, this success story will not be repeatable and the high-performing young sailors from Hamburg will migrate to Kiel for training."

The first Hamburg clubs are already planning specific training programmes and the establishment of their own bases in Kiel-Schilksee. "It is not sustainable to drive a combustion engine car along the A7 motorway to practice our outdoor sport on the water," emphasises Oliver Kosanke and appeals to the Hamburg clubs: "We must all actively and loudly fight together against the threat to our sports facilities. In the coming months, we will schedule a top-level meeting with Hamburg's politicians and use the election campaign and courting of voters' favour to promote our interests."

Hamburg marina receives no support

In addition to the Mühlenberger Loch, where the Blankeneser and Mühlenberger sailing clubs train, the Hamburg marina, the largest marina in Schleswig-Holstein, operated by the Hamburg Marina Association based in Hamburg, is particularly affected by the siltation. "We have to dredge the harbour basin every year, but we don't get any money from the so-called silt fund or from the state government in Kiel in the future," complains Jörg-Michael Satz, Chairman of the Hamburg Yacht Harbour Association. "We urgently need a solution and must make it clear to the responsible politicians how much maritime industry and infrastructure is located around the marina and how high the economic factor is for the region."

Broad alliance of associations

The cooperation and close collaboration now agreed between the regional associations is the start of a broad-based alliance of action to preserve the sailing areas along the Lower Elbe. In the coming weeks and months, the HgSV intends to report in detail on current measures and the progress of negotiations with the state governments.