According to the WSA, traffic developments in the port of Mukran in particular, with its LNG traffic, have contributed to an increased need for monitoring in the sea area. According to current planning, the system is expected to go into operation in 2027 and close a gap in radar monitoring in the busy Baltic Sea. The investment costs have not yet been finalised.
Rügen: Strategically important location
"The location at Cape Arkona was chosen as it offers a particularly good overview of the sea area due to its geographical elevation," explained the spokesperson for the Waterways and Shipping Office. Planning for the expansion of the radar coverage is currently underway as part of the Maritime Traffic Safety programme. Due to the ecological sensitivity and touristic importance of the location, coordination with the local authorities is "particularly intensive", according to the spokesperson. The municipality of Putgarten in the district of Vorpommern-Rügen already approved the construction project in October.
Gap in radar monitoring
There is apparently an area off the coast of Rügen that is not covered by radar. This gap in radar surveillance is to be closed by the new system. The Baltic Sea has come under increased scrutiny, especially since the Russian war of aggression. With 55,000 transits, it is one of the busiest sea routes in Europe. Around 9,000 of these transits are oil and gas transports. These tankers are equipped with special transponders that send ship data to the traffic centres. However, if one of these transponders fails, it is not possible to monitor the tankers adequately without radar.
More on monitoring maritime transport routes.
Temporary solution until completion on Rügen
In order to ensure reliable traffic monitoring until the new system on Rügen is completed, the WSA is currently working together with the port of Sassnitz. "Their radar data is being integrated into the traffic monitoring system," said the spokesperson. Although this interim solution ensures the necessary overview, it cannot replace the planned expansion of radar coverage at Cape Arkona. According to current information, the new radar system will reach a height of 35 metres.
Importance for maritime security
The Waterways and Shipping Authority is responsible for monitoring and securing civil shipping traffic in the Baltic Sea. The traffic monitoring technology is regularly reviewed and adapted in order to "permanently guarantee a high level of safety in the maritime traffic area", as the authority emphasises. There are currently two traffic centres in Travemünde and Warnemünde that monitor shipping traffic on the Baltic Sea. The new radar system at Cape Arkona is intended to supplement this existing infrastructure and close a gap in monitoring.
