Bad news for many skippers and charter guests in the capital: the Berlin Waterways and Shipping Authority has announced that VHF radio communication will be compulsory on the inner-city Spree from 6 April until further notice. However, the Spree-Oder waterway will be closed daily from 9 am to 7 pm on the section between Lessingbrücke (SOW-km 12.0) and Mühlendammschleuse (SOW-km 17.8) for pleasure craft and small vessels that do not have an operational radio system on board.
Several major construction sites are cited as the reason for this, such as the construction of the new Rathausbrücke bridge, the construction of the U5 underground line, bank work in several places and construction work in the Spree Canal. The resulting obstructions and restrictions for shipping traffic make radio communication absolutely essential. The closure will be indicated at the relevant points with the corresponding navigation signs. This also affects the public moorings at SOW km 15.3 and in the Spree Canal at km 1.6.
