Lubeck

1. Lübeck Pilot Pilot boards53°59.9′N 010°56.6′E

Size limits

Max LOA 241.79m, beam 35.20m, draught 8.7m and 76,662DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Seasonal Area for ships of 100m or less in length, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Travemunde: None, level variation only due to wind.

Currents: An ingoing current is usually experienced with winds between NNW through N to E. An outgoing current with winds between S and W. The rate seldom exceeds 2kts. Outside the entrance, the outgoing current sets SW in the middle of and on the SE side of the channel, but on the NW side the current sets S immediately in front of the N mole. The outgoing current divides at the entrance, one branch follows the direction of the channel as far as the roadstead, the other sets S towards the Mecklenburger coast.

Inside the harbour the current generally follows the direction of the river, except the ingoing current is partly deflected N by the bend of the harbour W of Priwall. Counter currents or eddies can occur close inshore They may attain a rate of approx half that of the current in the middle of the river. It is worth noting that in exceptional cases, winds from the N to ESE can raise the water level in the entrance. It is understood that the level can rise up to 3.3m and also be lowered by as much as 2m by winds from the N and ESE. These fluctuations are limited to approx 1m on average.

Caution: Care is needed during heavy inshore gales due to the current, which may be setting onto the E shore. It may be advisable to defer entry or departure. Alternatively, sufficient speed should be used to ensure good steerageway, reducing speed as necessary for entry into the harbour. Vessels should be ready with both anchors.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

The port is approached through Untertrave, a dredged channel, about 8.0nm in length, leading from Travemunde to the N part of Lubeck Stadthafen.

Width of the channel on the bottom is as follows:

From Travemunde to Stulper Huk (53°55.0'N 010°52.0'E), 100m.

From Stulper Huk to Herrenwyk (53°54.0'N 010°48.0'E), 90m.

From Herrenwyk to Lubeck, 60m.

The fairway, from the mouth of the river at Travemunde to Siechenbucht has a depth of 10.0m and from Siechenbucht to Lubeck, a depth of 9.5m. Three turning basins of 400m, 250m and 200m diameter are available.

Travemunde: The port is approached through a short dredged channel, marked by leading lights and lightbuoys (lateral).

The Elbe-Lubeck Kanal is made up of seven locks and leads S from the port and connects with the Elbe River at Lauenburg. The distance is approx 42nm and can be used by lighters up to LOA 80m, 1,200DWT, beam 11.6m beam and draught 2m.

Port limits

The port covers the length of River Trave from seaward to Lubeck, including Travemunde.

Travemunde: The port extends SW from No 1 and 2 Lightbuoys in the approach channel and includes that part of Die Trave up to a distance of approx 1.25nm within the moles protecting the entrance.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Vessels should also report before getting underway from Lubeck or Travemunde.

Information broadcasts: Travemunde Control will use VHF Ch 13 to relay details of the draught and beam of meeting vessels.

Bridges: Trave Bridge (Herrenbrucke), Navigable width 52.9m between the piers and vertical clearance when closed 21m at mean water level. VHF Ch 13. Lifting bridges at Lubeck, VHF Ch 18.

Procedure: Vessels may call during operating hours (throughout 24 hours for Herrenbrucke) to request opening of bridges.

Before transiting the Trave-Strecke (Stretch): Light Post No 16, inbound to Lubeck.

Vessels should also report before getting underway from Lubeck or Travemunde.

Information broadcasts: Travemunde Control will use VHF Ch 13 to relay details of the draught and beam of meeting vessels.

Bridges: Trave Bridge (Herrenbrucke), VHF Ch 13. Lifting bridges at Lubeck, VHF Ch 18.

Procedure: Vessels may call during operating hours (throughout 24 hours for Herrenbrucke) to request opening of bridges.

Traffic regulations: Vessels are not allowed to meet in the Travemunder Enge, the narrows at the harbour entrance; if there is any uncertainty when meeting, vessels proceeding to seaward have priority.

Vessels arriving from seaward may only enter the narrows if:

When passing No 1 Lightbuoy (starboard hand) (53°58.9'N., 010°54.7'E), there is no vessel outbound from Lubeck that has reached No 8 Light Beacon (port hand) (53°56.5'N 010°52.0'E).

When passing No 6 Lightbuoy (port hand) (53°57.7'N., 010°53.6'E), there is no vessel outbound from Lubeck that has not reached the line joining Stulper Huk (53°55.1'N 010°52.1'E) and No 16 Light Beacon (port hand) (0.15nm E).

The visibility is more than 1,000m, vessels of beam greater than 9m can meet in Travemunder Enge between the line joining No 3 and 4 Lightbuoys (lateral) and the line of the ferries. 0.85nm WSW of the N Molehead Light.

In wind speeds less than force 7 on the Beaufort scale, if total beam of vessels do not exceed 49m, and if draughts do not exceed 5.8m.

In wind speeds of force 7 and greater, if total beam of vessels do not exceed 42m, and if the draught of one vessel does not exceed 6.5m.

If visibility is less than 1,000m, the total width of meeting vessels must not exceed 35m, and the draught of one vessel must not exceed 6.5m.

Usually large vessels are defined as being more than LOA 180m, beam 24.5m and draught 8.0m.

Hazards: Ferries: Two car and passenger ferries cross the fairway inside the harbour about 0.3nm and 0.85nm WSW of the N Molehead Light. Vessels must sound a long blast as a warning before passing the ferry crossings.

Anchorages

Outer anchorage: Travemunde Reede (53°59.0'N., 010°55.0'E), off the entrance to Travemunde, provides the best anchorage, with the N Molehead Light (53°57.8'N., 010°53.4'E) bearing approx 220° by about 1.75nm, in a depth of approx 17.0m, mud, clay and sand. Winds from NE create a choppy sea, but a well found vessel should be able to ride out a gale from this direction.

Anchorage can be obtained anywhere off this stretch of coast, clear of the dredged channel in the approach to the harbour.

Prohibited anchorage: Anchoring is prohibited in the entrance channel and within 3,000m above and below the cable area in the harbour.

Restrictions

Bridges: Herrenbrucke has been demolished and replaced by a tunnel "Herren-Tunnel". The River Trave in this area is known as Herrundurchstich, (about 1nm above Schlutup).

Eric Warburg-Brucke (53°53.0'N., 010°41.0'E), navigable width 37.5m, vertical clearance when closed 6.0m.

NE of Teerhof Insel: Vertical clearance 14.8m.

W of Teerhof Insel: Vertical clearance 20m.

Speed restrictions: Between No 8 Light beacon (port hand), at the SW extremity of the Priwall peninslua, and No 20 Light beacon (port hand), about 2.0nm ENE of Schlutup: 8.1kts.

Speed restrictions: Between Lightbuoys No 3 and 4 (lateral) in the entrance channel to No 8 Lightbuoy (port hand) (1.75nm farther SW) are as follows:

Vessels of less than 3m draught, 6.5kts.

All other vessels able to maintain steerage, 8kts.

Between No 20 Light Beacon (port hand) and Lubeck 6.5kts.

Submarine Cables: Submarine power cable extends NE from a location located on the shore approx 0.6nm E of the harbour entrance at Travemunde. It is understood that The cable, best seen on the chart, have been understood to cause magnetic compass deflections of up to 70° in the vicinity of the cable

Tugs

1 x 2,000bhp(42t bollard pull) and 1 x 3,600bhp (63t bollard pull) tugs available. At Stadthafen vessels of over 1,600GT should use 1 tug and vessels of over 2,500GT should use 2 tugs. Available on request throughout 24 hours.

Mooring

Vessels of over LOA 60m should use a mooring gang.

Mooring/unmooring services are offered at all terminals operated by Hans Lehmann KG. The service provided in available 24/7 and may be contacted via telephone at +49 451 59910 250 or via email at [email protected]

Charts and publications

BA 2106, 2117, 2354, 2355. Admiralty Pilot NP18, NP286(2).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessel's ETA should be sent 24 hours before arrival, but not later than immediately after departure from last port, and confirmed 2 hours prior to arrival.

Health

Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate can be issued.

Customs and immigration

In accordance with the EU law.

Notices and regulations

Traffic Regulations: Between Schlutup (53°53.6'N 010°48.0'E) and Stadthafen, vessels of beam more than 9.0m may only meet another vessel if the combined beam of those vessels does not exceed 35m, and where the draught does not exceed 6.5m. Where there is any uncertainty, the wider vessel has priority. With vessels of the same width, the vessel from seaward has priority.

Port State Control here: Paris MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Bundesamt fur Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie.

Position: Head of Maritime Shipping Department.

Address: Bundesamt fur Seeschifffahrt u. Hydrographie (BSH) Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency Section S42 - Martime Security

Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 78

20359 Hamburg, Germany

Tel: +49 40 3190 7420

Fax: +49 40 3190 5009

Mob: +49 40 3190 7777

Web: http://www.deutsche-flagge.de/

Email: [email protected]

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org

Repairs

Restricted services are available.

Travemunde: There are workshops, repair of main and auxiliary machinery, engine and electronic spare parts, navigational equipment, tank cleaning and repair of cargo related equipment.

Dry docks

No facilities available. The nearest available is Flender shipyard.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkers: Fuel oil available. LNG bunkering available at the Skandinavienkai Terminal via vessels alongside.

Stores: Available.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Sana Kliniken Lubeck GmbH (8.7km)

Crew change

It is possible at Travemunde port.

Transport

Nearest airport: Flughafen Lubeck LBC (11.65km) and Hamburg Airport (60km).

Nearest railway: Lubeck-Haupt-Bahnhof. Rail connections to every berth, operated and maintained by the Lubeck Port Railway. Approx 60km of tracks and 260 points, the railway connects port terminals to further individual private sidings with the lines of DB InfraGO AG.

Nearest highway: The pot has access to Bundesautobahn 1 and Bundesautobahn 20.

Nearest public transport: Bus routes throughout Lubeck.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours a day in 3 shifts.

Where it is

Lubeck is situated in the Baltic, approx 8nm SW of Travemunde, at the confluence of the rivers "Trave" and "Wakenitz", and lies at the seaward end of the Elbe-Lubeck Canal.

The port

The Port of Lubeck, one of the Baltic Sea's key maritime gateways, extends over 264ha from the mouth of the Trave River to the centre of Lubeck. The strategically located port features a diverse array of berths dedicated to dry cargo, Ro-Ro, and container operations, adeptly managing a wide range of wood and bulk cargo products. With water depths varying from 6.0 to 9.5m, the port accommodates vessels of different sizes, ensuring efficient loading and unloading processes. With an eye to the future, the port has invested in shore power at the Skandinavienkai Terminal with aims to be free of fossil fuels by 2040.

Traffic

Approx 23,200,000t of cargo, 160,000TEU and 506,000 passengers are handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Lubeck?

The pilot boards at Lübeck Pilot, 53°59.9′N 010°56.6′E.

What time zone is Lubeck in?

Local time at Lubeck is UTC+1. Clocks go to UTC+2 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+1 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Lubeck?

The deepest berth listed is at Lubeck Container Terminal (Lehmannkai): 8.70 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Lubeck?

1025.

Which load line zone is Lubeck in?

Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Seasonal Area for ships of 100m or less in length, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Lubeck?

Port State Control at Lubeck: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Lubeck?

The UN/LOCODE of Lubeck is DELBC.

What crews who called at Lubeck say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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