Crews in northern Germany can hope to soon be able to moor in at least some marinas again - even without the widespread exemption for transfers to permanent moorings. This could at least be possible in the four so-called tourism model regions, which the Schleswig-Holstein state government selected from twelve applicant regions at the end of last week.
Four model regions
This now includes the Schlei region and Eckernförde, the inner Bay of Lübeck with Timmendorfer Strand, Scharbeutz, Haffkrug, Neustadt, Pelzerhaken and Rettin, the North Sea island of Sylt and North Friesland as well as Büsum.
For sailors and owners with moorings on the Baltic Sea, the opening in the Schlei region and Eckernförde is of particular interest. The lead organisation for the project on the Schlei is the Ostseefjord Schlei GmbH.
Marina harbours to be integrated
The project is due to start next Monday, 19 April, and will initially run until 16 May 2021. Yacht harbours will also be affected, Ostseefjord Schlei GmbH said when asked by YACHT online - provided they want to participate. However, the general conditions for the openings, for example with regard to the use of sanitary facilities, are currently still being clarified with the responsible health authorities.
The health authorities could also cancel the projects. "This means that in an emergency - regardless of the incidence value of a district - any model project can be cancelled by the veto of the local health authority and the guests sent home," emphasised Economics Minister Buchholz when announcing the model regions.
Requirements for companies
At present, hosts and tourist businesses on the Schlei that wish to participate must complete a "Declaration of commitment to participate in the 'Restart in Tourism' pilot project" and submit it, including their hygiene concept.
Among other things, they undertake to check guests for negative rapid antigen tests or a PCR test and to use the Luca app to transmit contact details. However, it is still completely unclear whether this will also apply to marinas.
"Our top priority is responsible implementation. We don't want tourism to take place in an uncontrolled manner, but all areas must be clearly regulated," says Max Triphaus, Managing Director of Ostseefjord Schlei GmbH. First and foremost, this means that not every landlord or leisure provider is allowed to open their business "just like that".
Openings in the catering trade
The latest changes to the Corona Ordinance in Schleswig-Holstein also provide for the opening of outdoor catering with a stable incidence of less than 100. In this case, however, contact restrictions will remain in place with a maximum of five people from two households and FFP2 masks that can be removed at the table.
