Shooting range Hohwachter Bucht
The Hohwachter Bucht shooting range at the Putlos and Todendorf military training areas is used by the German Armed Forces all year round. With the start of the sailing season, however, traffic on the water increases sharply, which also increases the risk. Skippers planning a trip through the sea area between Fehmarn and the Kiel Fjord should always be aware of the current firing times.
These are published in good time by the responsible Waterways and Shipping Office on behalf of the Federal Armed Forces in a notice to mariners (BfS), most recently for the month of May, and replaced by updated messages as required. The following times generally apply until the end of the month:
- Monday to Thursday: 9 am to 6 pm
- Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
- Additionally on Wednesday and Thursday until 00:30
- Saturday, 10 May 2025: 9 am to 2 pm
This is how the Bundeswehr warns
Regular exercises are carried out in the Hohwachter Bucht shooting range and on the Putlos and Todendorf military training areas, both inside and outside the warning and danger zones marked by buoys. It is strictly forbidden to sail in these areas during the specified firing times, and skippers should take particular care.
Shortened shooting times are announced via signals at the Heidkate, Hubertsberg, Wessek, Blankeck and Heiligenhafen warning centres. An additional daytime signal at the Neuland lighthouse switches off automatically at dusk. The signals from the other centres and the safety vehicles are more important.
Situation reports on coastal radio
Outside of the specified firing times, exercises with flare and signal ammunition also take place (with the exception of the red signal). The danger area outside the warning zones, marked by the light buoys H1 to H3, should be avoided as far as possible during firing times; however, it is possible to pass through after prior consultation with the Bundeswehr.
The coastal radio station Todendorf Naval broadcasts situation reports on VHF channel 11 from Monday to Friday at 7:30, 11:00 and 15:30 and on Saturdays in exceptional cases at 7:30 and 11:00 on the current danger areas. These are announced five minutes in advance on VHF channel 16.
Bundeswehr also exercises at other locations
For the Bay of Kiel, shooting times have been set until the end of June on the Notices to Mariners (BfS) published. Day and night firing exercises only take place when the field of fire is unobstructed. The main traffic routes such as the Kiel-Flensburg-Weg and the Kiel-Ostsee-Weg remain open for shipping.
The same notices also provide information about artillery firing exercises in the Pomeranian Bay area and torpedo firing exercises in the Arkona area. Here, too, firing only takes place during the day and at night when there is a clear field of fire; these sea areas also remain passable.
During the exercises, the vehicles involved display the NE 4 signal in accordance with the international signalling book. If vessels come too close to the target in the dark, warning signals in the form of white flares are fired and the target is illuminated. The vessels involved use only the light and signalling systems prescribed in the Collision Prevention Regulations (KVR) and the Maritime Traffic Regulations (SeeSchStrO).
Positions of the Bundeswehr firing ranges
Bay of Kiel
- 54°46.0'N 010°05.0'E
- 54°46.0'N 010°23.5'E
- 54°42.0'N 010°35.0'E
- 54°30.0'N 010°35.0'E
- 54°30.0'N 010°10.0'E
- 54°29.0'N 010°05.8'E
- 54°28.8'N 010°03.8'E
- 54°28.8'N 010°03.0'E
- 54°39.0'N 010°05.0'E
- 54°46.0'N 010°05.0'E
Pomeranian Bay
- 54°40.0'N 013°57.5'E
- 54°40.0'N 014°20.0'E
- 54°20.0'N 014°17.0'E
- 54°20.0'N 014°08.0'E
- 54°27.0'N 014°08.0'E
- 54°27.0'N 014°00.0'E
- 54°37.8'N 013°51.5'E
- 54°40.0'N 013°57.5'E
Arkona
- 54°51.0'N 013°09.0'E
- 54°51.0'N 013°30.0'E
- 54°47.0'N 013°45.0'E
- 54°37.5'N 013°45.0'E
- 54°37.5'N 013°30.0'E
- 54°43.0'N 013°30.0'E
- 54°43.0'N 013°00.0'E
- 54°47.5'N 013°00.0'E
- 54°51.0'N 013°09.0'E
Christian Tiedt
Editor Travel
