After the peak of 38 shipping accidents in 2023, the waterway police recorded another decline last year with 19 accidents. This means that shipping accidents on federal and state waterways have halved within two years. Nautical misconduct and a lack of care on the part of vessel drivers were the most common causes of accidents in 2025.
Last year, the officers from Waschpo were called out on a total of 78 rescue missions. These were in connection with helpless people, suicide attempts, accidents, accidents, the search for missing persons and the recovery of corpses.
Inspection activity increases by four per cent
With 5,376 inspections of shipping and angling, the number of operations and inspections increased by around four per cent compared to the previous year. In the case of commercial shipping, an offence was detected in every fourth case inspected, meaning that the waterway police punished a total of 152 shipping offences.
Consistent inspections of recreational craft are having an effect. In 885 inspections in 2025, only one in nine boats was inspected - after one in seven in 2024 and one in four in 2023. In 2025, the waterway police initiated a total of 816 administrative offences and 362 criminal proceedings.
Alcohol and drug checks on recreational boaters
In 2025, the waterway police used the start of the recreational boating season to draw attention to the dangers of alcohol and drug consumption at the wheel of a boat. Between 29 May and 9 June 2025, a total of 144 vessels were checked - 130 recreational craft and 14 commercial vessels. Voluntary breath tests were carried out in 99 cases, in eight of which alcohol consumption was detected.
Increase in boat thefts
Thefts of boats and engines have increased. The statistics for 2025 show a total of 17 such offences, compared to five a year earlier. Under the slogan "The Serious Difference", the waterway police offer the option of engraving an individual number on outboard motors all year round. This measure makes the sale of stolen engines considerably more difficult and increases the chance of recovery.
Boat owners should take advantage of this free offer from the waterway police to protect their equipment. The engraving can be carried out at all locations of the water police. These are located in Magdeburg, Dessau-Roßlau, Haldensleben, Halle, Havelberg and Zerben.
Environmental offences are increasing significantly
Of the criminal proceedings initiated, 243 cases, or around 67 per cent, were environmental offences. The number of water pollution offences rose from 18 to 33. The clearance rate in this offence area remains very high at 78 percent.
In order to do justice to this focus, the Waterway Police took part in the "Nationwide Water and Environmental Protection Action Days" for the fourth time from 12 to 18 May 2025. The aim of the BAGU is to check compliance with environmental regulations in the area of shipping nationwide at the same time and thus across state borders and to consistently penalise violations. The waterway police will once again take part in the BAGU inspection week in 2026.
Large area of responsibility on the country's rivers and lakes
The waterway police of the state of Saxony-Anhalt are responsible for a network of around 560 kilometres of federal waterways. These include the Elbe, Saale, Lower Havel Waterway, Mittelland Canal and Elbe-Havel Canal, including the side canals as well as harbours, loading, unloading and transhipment points.
The area of responsibility also includes around 190 kilometres of other rivers on which navigation is permitted, such as those sections of the Saale that are not classified as federal waterways and the Unstrut. Lakes with a total surface area of around 6,500 hectares also fall under the jurisdiction of the water police, including the Arendsee, Niegripper See, the Große Goitzschesee and the Geiseltalsee.
Pascal Schürmann
Editor YACHT
