The operators of the "Lystbådehavn" harbour in the south of Sønderborg, which is also popular with German crews, are doing away with a widespread inequality. Almost everywhere in the Baltic Sea, permanent berth holders pay according to the size of their berth, while day berth holders pay according to the length of their boat. This is now to end.
As Hans Viggaard from the marina operators' association told YACHT online, in future guests will also be charged according to the width of the box. The reason for the change is the desire to make better use of the available capacity. The new price structure is intended to "incentivise mooring in the right boxes".
Especially during the high season and at weekends, owners of larger boats are often unable to moor in the harbour because the few wide berths are occupied by smaller yachts. "When the harbour master then asks them to move, many crews are unwilling or unable to do so," says Viggaard. This is why financial pressure and additional signs on the jetty to show guests the width of each berth are now needed. These are to be installed in the coming weeks.
"We have measured every single berth by laser," says Hans Viggaard. The information will soon also be available on the Homepage of the Lystbådehavn be retrievable. The new prices are already available as PDF available to anyone interested.
With the new concept, every skipper will have a certain amount of control over how much harbour dues they have to pay. The marina operators have calculated the fees on the basis of dozens of yachts and compared old against new. "We are not interested in raising prices," emphasises Hans Viggaard. "Rather, we want to ensure that we can accommodate as many guests as possible."
As boxes with passage widths of four metres and more are particularly scarce, these should be available for the really large yachts. A ten-metre yacht can still moor there, but at a correspondingly high price.
Here are three examples:
- A Hanse 370 (length 11.30 m, width 3.75 m) cost 180 crowns per night in the old system. If it goes into a box with a width of 3.80 metres, it remains at 180 crowns. A berth with a width of 4 metres costs 200 crowns, alongside even 250 crowns.
- A Luffe 37 (length 11.48 m, width 2.75 m) was previously charged 180 crowns, just like the Hanse. In future, it will only cost 130 crowns in a 2.90 m wide box, while in a 3.20 m wide box it will still be around 15 per cent cheaper at 155 crowns.
- It is only more expensive for very wide boats such as a Mini 6.50 (length 6.50 m, width 3.00 m). It cost 130 crowns last season and 155 crowns this season in a 3.20 metre box.
The new pricing model was developed on the basis of a survey conducted last year, in which many German crews also took part. Hans Viggaard has also shared the plan with other marina operators and has so far met with nothing but approval. In his opinion, it could set a precedent. "I wouldn't be surprised if other harbours gradually follow our example."
Jochen Rieker
Herausgeber YACHT
