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Lippe harbor closed: Popular port of call for sailors is closing!
The port of Lippe on the Baltic Sea will be closed on March 31, 2025. The reason is damage caused by the “Teredo Navalis” drill mussel, which makes safe use impossible. This is considered a great loss for sailors and the region.
Lippe harbor closed: Popular port of call for sailors is closing!
With the final closure of the port of Lippe on the Holstein Baltic Sea coast, sailors and sea rescuers have to say goodbye to a popular refuge. The port, whose approach buoy was officially withdrawn without replacement on May 9, 2025, will be closed on March 31, 2025. This was announced by the Baltic Sea Waterways and Shipping Office because port operations can no longer be maintained due to structural defects. The control buoy was located at 54°20.1'N and 010°39.1'E. This decision is the result of long-term problems caused by the Teredo Navalis drill clam, which has caused extensive damage to the wooden pier.
The port of Lippe, which lies between the Fehmarn Sound and the Kiel Fjord and is the property of Count Franz von Waldersee, will no longer be viewed as a safe harbor in the future. According to the operator, the necessary renovation costs are too high to save the infrastructure and an expert investigation has confirmed that the entrance to the pier is on the verge of collapse. The silting in the harbor entrance complained about by the operator has resulted in the sea rescue boat “Woltera” getting stuck and having to move because the harbor is no longer cleaned regularly.
Consequences for the region
The closure of the port has far-reaching effects, not only for the more than 200 long-term residents who received notices of termination as of March 31, 2025, but also for the entire region. Many boat owners are concerned about the lack of clarity on how to get their boats into the sea due to the blocked harbor entrance. Sailors from the surrounding Baltic Sea towns of Laboe and Fehmarn are to cover the Hohwacht Bay in the future, which means the relocation of maritime activities.
The discussion about closing the port is not new, but the implementation now is perceived as a great loss. The port was only classified as an official port of refuge in 2022, but real circumstances have thrown this designation into doubt. Some of those involved also suspect that, in addition to the structural defects, a simmering legal dispute between the operator and the Lippe/Ostsee Yacht Club also plays a role in this development, as disputes arose over boats that were still in winter storage on land during the closure.
Overall, the closure of the port of Lippe and the associated challenges are a worrying signal for the maritime infrastructure on the Baltic Sea coast. It remains to be seen how residents and water sports enthusiasts will deal with this situation and what alternatives are available to them.