Denmark - Restrictions
Prohibited areas: Nautical charts show prohibited zones and exercise areas (marked: EK + letter + number). Contact the harbour master for the times when navigation and/or anchoring is prohibited. Also marked on Danish charts as restricted are several small uninhabited islands, which are protected areas for seabirds and other wildlife and should not be landed on between 1 April and 1 June. On some of these islands, there are signs forbidding landing. The IALA Maritime Buoyage System “Region A” applies.
Navigation: Shipping traffic between the North Sea and the Baltic is heavy and vessels must use the correct lane in traffic separation zones. These are in operation in the northern part of the Sound between Elsinore and Hälsingborg in Sweden, at the Great Belt between Korsør and Sprogoe by Hatter Barn and the Baltic Sea south of Gedser. In Danish waters the Transit Route for very large vessels runs from the Skaw to the Moen SE light vessel north-east of Gedser. In some areas larger ships on the Transit Route are confined by depths to Deep Water Routes; these can be found in the Great Belt east of Samsoe, along the east coast of Langeland, and north-east of Gedser. Yachts should avoid the Transit and Deep Water Routes as the depth conditions do not allow large vessels much room to maneuver. Attention should also be paid to port entry regulations and signs.
Fishing: Foreign visitors may only use simple hand gear for fishing. Harpoons, traps, and nets are forbidden. Permission should be obtained from the owners of the fishing rights before fishing in rivers or estuaries.
Holding Tanks: Any vessels must not release blackwater into Danish waters. No discharge of blackwater into the harbour basin is allowed. Use the disposal facilities on land.
The vessels below are required to fit a holding tank:
- boats built between 1980 and before 2000 and fitted with an onboard toilet, which are either longer than 10.5m or have a maximum beam of more than 2.8m;
- boats built after 2000 and fitted with an onboard toilet.
Anchoring: No anchoring is allowed in narrow fairways. In particular, never anchor in the line of leading lights or in the white sector. Dropping anchor where cables lead into the water is banned as well so look out for leading marks on the shore that indicate underwater cables. To drop anchor in a harbour or near a landing stage you need the port authority’s permission. The port authority can also direct vessels to leave anchorage.
Mooring Buoys: The yellow mooring buoys marked DT is for use by any cruisers. Those marked DS are for members only.
Other Restrictions:
- Since 2018 it is illegal in Denmark to wear in a public place any clothing which conceals the face. Failure to comply with this law is punishable by a fine of DKK1000 (around €135). The fine can increase for repeat offenders. The law applies to both residents and visitors.
- It’s possible to bathe naked on nearly all Danish beaches, with the exception of a small number of beaches where it is prohibited. If it is prohibited, there will be a sign stating this. If you do decide to go without your clothes on the beach, the only rule is that you show respect to other beach users.
- In Denmark it is against the law to smoke in indoor public places, except in specially equipped smoking booths. This includes restaurants, cafés, bars, all forms of public transport and taxis. You may smoke in bars or cafes with a license to sell alcohol, if they are smaller than 40 square meters in size. Hotels determine their own smoking rules but most hotels are non-smoking.
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Nexo is a good port of call, on the west side of Bornholm: although mainly fishing, there are spaces for visiting yachts either in box berths or with a line to a stern buoy.
Visit the harbourmaster to pay (+45 56 49 22 50): walk north (right) along the frontage; take the first left; the office is 100m on the left. In the season, watch for the ferry arriving with around 100 cyclists + bikes getting off & the same number getting on: a sight to behold.
Don’t expect to be received by a harbourmaster in a Danish yacht harbor, just find a free berth – normally marked with a green sign (red means that the regular owner will return the same day) look for messages like “free until date so and so”. In many yacht harbor, you then have to report to a self-service machine to pay your harbor fee and get a key for the toilet and bath.
Just follow the instruction on the machine, they are normally at least written in Danish, German and English. You can stay for a long period in a Danish yacht harbor without ever seeing the harbourmaster. In fishing harbors, a harbourmaster can be present – but no guarantee.