WebreaderShopNewsletterTop harbours

Shooting range Hohwachter BuchtThe shooting is live! What sailors need to know.

Christian Tiedt

 · 27.04.2026

Shooting range Hohwachter Bucht: The shooting is live! What sailors need to know.Photo: Bundeswehr/Torsten Kraatz
Firing practice with rocket artillery out onto Hohwacht Bay.
In the Hohwachter Bucht shooting area, firing is carried out from the Putlos and Todendorf military training areas from the coast out to sea. With the start of the water sports season, the authorities once again draw attention to the associated rules and prohibitions when travelling.
Topics in this article

At the Putlos and Todendorf military training areas, which lie to the west of Heilighafen, live firing is practised with a wide variety of weapons and ammunition. They are fired out at sea. To protect shipping, a warning area marked with buoys has been permanently established off the coast, as well as an adjacent danger area, which is also marked with buoys.

Shooting times in May 2026

In general, the practice areas are open all year round. However, with the start of the water sports season, the special circumstances in Hohwacht Bay are emphasised every year.

The following shooting times apply for May 2026:

  • Monday to Thursday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Friday 9 am to 12.30 pm
  • Wednesdays and Thursdays additionally until 11.30 pm

The shooting times are without guarantee, but closures must be expected. The exact times are published weekly in the relevant notices to mariners (BfS) by the responsible Baltic Sea Waterways and Shipping Office. on the ELWIS information portal announced.

Driving prohibited!

It is forbidden to enter the warning area during the specified firing times. In addition, exercises are also held outside these times during which illuminating and signalling ammunition, with the exception of red signals, is fired.

The adjacent danger area to the north, which is marked by the light buoys "H1" to "H3", should be avoided during the shooting times, but can be entered after prior consultation with the Bundeswehr.

How do you like this article?

Signals on land and at sea

The signals from the signalling stations on land and the safety vessels on the water are decisive. The warning stations Heidkate, Hubertusberg, Wessek, Blankeck and Heiligenhafen also indicate if the firing times are shortened. The Neuland lighthouse signalling station is an additional daytime signal.

The coastal radio station "Todendorf Naval" broadcasts current situation reports on firing operations on VHF 11 Monday to Friday at 7.30 am, 11 am and 3.30 pm and in exceptional cases on Saturdays at 7.30 am and 11 am. The announcement is made five minutes in advance on VHF 16.

Also interesting:

Christian Tiedt

Christian Tiedt

Editor Travel

Christian Tiedt was born in Hamburg in 1975, but grew up in the northern suburbs of the city - except for numerous visits to the harbor, North Sea and Baltic Sea, but without direct access to water sports for a long time. His first adventures then took place on dry land: With the classics from Chichester, Slocum and Co. After completing his vocational training, his studies finally gave him the opportunity (in terms of time) to get active on the water - and to obtain the relevant licenses. First with cruising and then, when he joined BOOTE in 2004, with motorboats of all kinds. In the meantime, Christian has been able to get to know almost all of Europe (and some more distant destinations) on his own keel and prefers to share his adventures and experiences as head of the travel department for YACHT and BOOTE in cruise reports.

Home

Most read in category Travel