Germany - Restrictions
Fuel
In Germany no coloured (tax free) diesel is sold to pleasure craft. If arriving with coloured diesel in the main tank, ensure that you have the correct receipt from the fuel/bunker station in case of inspection (it must not be carried in portable containers/jerry cans at all).
Disposal of Garbage
There are strict anti-pollution regulations in force throughout Germany, but particularly in the Baltic Sea. The disposal of garbage anywhere in the Baltic is forbidden. Degradable foodstuff can only be disposed of overboard more than 20 kms (12 miles) from shore. Special containers are provided in all ports for the disposal of garbage and used oils.
Holding Tanks
Boats are required to be equipped with waste tanks, although there are exemptions for all vessels which are less than 10.5 meters long or less than 2.8 meters wide or built before 1980. Other exemptions may exist including foreign vessels whose normal home port is outside Germany, so long as they are only visiting Germany for a season.
Navigation
When motor-sailing, a black cone with its apex pointing downwards must be displayed and when at anchor the black ball must be hoisted – failure to do so can result in instant fines.
Yachts must carry on board the German collision regulations (Seeschiffahrtsstrasse-nordnung) and the Kiel Canal Rules. The latter can be obtained at the Canal.
Regulations state that any vessel over 15 tons is considered a merchant ship and must carry a pilot through most state waterways unless the skipper has a Master’s Certificate, though it appears that in practice this is not applied to yachts.
Children under 15 years may not steer a vessel underway in German waters and, in certain rivers, this minimum age is 21 or 23. Motorboats, and sometimes sailing yachts, require special permission to use some inland waterways.
There are areas in Germany where entry is prohibited as well as firing practice areas. All such areas are marked on charts. For more information see the webpage of German Waterways and Shipping Administration.
Another useful site is the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany webpage.
For firing and practice areas, warnings are also given on Navtex.
Construction of the Fehmarn fixed link is in progress between Puttgarden
(Fehmarn GER) and Rødbyhavn (Lolland DEN). Restricted areas are marked by AIS-ATON and a VTS have been implemented. The restricted areas move along with the construction site, up to date positions are broadcast through Notice to Mariners.
Fehmarnsund bridge with a clearance of 22.10 m might be too low for bigger yachts.
Special vigilance is required when sailing at night in coastal areas.
Some areas have been designated as Marine Protection Areas or Conservation Zones. Life rings and safety ladders are normally provided and there may be restrictions on the use of BBQs. Speed limits apply where marked.
Anchoring
Anchoring in fairways, military exercise areas and Marine Protection Areas is prohibited.
Wind Farms
It is prohibited to navigate within wind farms while they are under construction. Vessels under 24m can navigate in wind farms under certain conditions.
Wikinger and Arkonabecken Südost – Entry is prohibited on offshore windpark construction sites NE of the island of Rügen. For more details, see here.
Restrictions apply for Baltic I and Baltic II. Entry prohibited with visibilty below 500m and wind speed of 8 Bft. and more. Fishing, anchoring and mooring at constructions are prohibited.
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Country Navigation
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The measure of closing all harbours in Schleswig-Holstein is prolonged until 24-4 (notice to mariners 85/20 27-3-2020). This includes Helgoland and the west-coast between Brunsbuttel and the Danish border. The measures making it impossible to use the Kiel canal for transit.
Gas Cylinders can be refilled in Northern Germany http://www.faerbergas.de/ I was able to have a US fibreglass 5kg cylinder and a UK calor gas 6kg refilled in Flensburg, there are also other locations listed on their website
Hello, I am looking for a wintering out of the water for my sailboat (Feeling 1090) in the Kiel area. Any good feedback will be appreciated.
Regards,
Gérard
Hi Gerard, we had a similar enquiry last year and the cruiser in question sent the following feedback:
We left the boat in Greifswald, a small, quaint and old Hanse town south of the island Rügen.
Situated there is the Hanse Yachts Wharf that offers full-service winter storage at a competitive price (some 20% less than most of the marinas we contacted in the area). The place is very protected weather-wise, as the town itself and the wharf are situated some 3-4 km inland, along a narrow river.
Access point is Greifswald Wieck, where the old bridge opens every hour at the hour (from 9 am to 8 pm, if memory serves) to allow boats and ships to pass.
Hanse Yacht Werf itself offers a full spectrum of services, from winter storage (as in our case, we will not be present when our boat will be lifted up), rigging services, sail makers, motor service and repairs, hull repair, painting etc and a well equipped marine store. A big yacht rental company operates in the compound, and all normal marina services are provided (toilets, showers, laundry, electricity, water etc).
There is quite a lot of talk about the water depth on entrances between the islands called seegats. The sandbanks are moving and the channels may be silted with reduced depths.
We found the German Wattenschipper service (http://www.wattenschipper.de/Aktuelles.htm) extremely useful. They provide LW water depth soundings on all seegats together with tips on entrance channel usage.
Andrus.
S/Y Suwena – http://www.suwena.net/en