2015. Berlin bleibt geteilte Stadt durch Sprechfunkpflicht

[Fritz682]

Hello Sarastro,

i think there is no chance for you between 10:30 and 19:00. Most german Charter Boats have no UKW Radio on Board, and UKW handradios are not allowed on pleasure crafts on inland waterways in germany.

The problem is not soooo big, because the passage needs roughly one and a half hour, so you will have enough time to get throug before 10:30.

Have a nice holiday.

[QuickNick]

Zitat von Sarastro

Hello from Sweden,

Please excuse a question in English (but please feel free to respond in German)...

I'm a keen boater with plenty of experience from Swedish coastal waters. In have also taken the formal exams for ICC certificate (including inland), and also SRC certificate for UKW radio.

Then again, I also like canal boating (and have done so in UK and Sweden quite a lot). So therefore I have now booked a boating holiday in Germany, with the intent of passing through the centre of Berlin this summer.

Unfortunately, I now discover the subject you discuss in this thread, i. e. that you need a UKW radio for passing through parts of the Berlin waterways 10.30 - 19.00. Now that's a pretty tough restriction, so is there solution to this problem? I could e. g. buy a German UKW-handradio (not so expensive), but do I need to register that to the boat or otherwise? If so, is this complicated and/or costly?

Regards,

Sarastro

Hi Sarastro and welcome at the Boote-Forum.

You are right, passing between 10.30 a.m. - 7 p.m. is forbidden without UKW-radio. It is a pity that there are nearly no charterboats with UKW and handradios at sport boats are also forbidden by law.

Because of the sluice "Mühlendammschleuse" there is no legal way to pass this section without UKW. (Except the times above)

But it is not such a problem, it is easy to start from Spandau or Charlottenburg in the morning and pass the section. On your way back there is also the canal "Landwehrkanal"(but there could be a problem with the height, maximum as far as I know 3.4meters), alternatively the "Teltowkanal".

Have a nice trip in Berlin, it is worth it. And do not hesitate if you have further questions.

Regards

Nick

[Mr-Flopppy]

Maybe an other solution is .... you go with the boot into the city bevore 10:30 ... than you stop on one of the free 24 h places .... visit the city.. and leave the restrictet area after 19:00

Hubert

[glasi2000]

Ist die UKW Pflicht dieses Jahr noch in der Innenstadt???

[Stoertebeker2010]

Ja, bleibt bestehen:

https://www.elwis.de/mvc/main.php?mo...B_ID=0335/2016

[Pianist]

Zitat von Mr-Flopppy

Maybe an other solution is .... you go with the boot into the city bevore 10:30 ... than you stop on one of the free 24 h places .... visit the city.. and leave the restrictet area after 19:00

But Sarastro needs to know that the most interesting stop at Schiffbauerdamm (near Friedrichstraße station) is nearly always very busy, so that it is often not possible to find a mooring place there. Or in other words: there is no guarantee to get some space there.

The other places in the district of Charlottenburg and Tiergarten are not as attractive, but also possible as an alternative. Going into the Humboldthafen (directly at main station) is not (yet) allowed for pleasure crafts.

In Berlin, there are not enough mooring facilities at all, that's a problem.

Matthias

[Sarastro]

Many thanks for the welcome and those kind words of help from all you German skippers.

OK, perhaps the Funkpflicht isn't such a big problem, after all. Then again (just for argument's sake), let's say I could get hold of an approved UKW-radio for fixed installation at a decent price (perhaps a used unit on Ebay), then what else would I need to do?

[Pianist]

You need the german UBI (UKW-Sprechfunkzeugnis für die Binnenschifffahrt, ultra short wave radio communication certificate for inland waterways). Certificates from other RAINWAT members (Sweden is not part of that) are valid. And You also need to registrate the radio set on Your boat at the german federal network agency.

Normally I say, that radio communication is very useful in Berlin, or in North Germany, because of lots of locks and dense traffic, but perhaps the effort is too much for one time by boat in Germany...

Matthias

[Sarastro]

Zitat von Pianist

You need the german UBI (UKW-Sprechfunkzeugnis für die Binnenschifffahrt, ultra short wave radio communication certificate for inland waterways). Certificates from other RAINWAT members (Sweden is not part of that) are valid. And You also need to registrate the radio set on Your boat at the german federal network agency.

Normally I say, that radio communication is very useful in Berlin, or in North Germany, because of lots of locks and dense traffic, but perhaps the effort is too much for one time by boat in Germany...

Matthias

OK, thanks a lot for the info, so we'll probably just have to do without the UKW radio and navigate these waters outside the Funkpflicht hours. So just out of curiosity; would the German authorities accept an international YIT Radio Operators Certificate (I think i could have my license convertered without too much trouble): https://www.iytworld.com/courses/rec...rs-certificate ?

[Mar-Thar]

Zitat von Sarastro

So just out of curiosity; would the German authorities accept an international YIT Radio Operators Certificate (I think i could have my license convertered without too much trouble): https://www.iytworld.com/courses/rec...rs-certificate ?

I suspect, if you are travelling on your own VHF-equipped boat, and on demand can show a valid international ro-license of any kind, nobody will really bother you. They are not hunting down tourists there, to then sue them for illegal passing without VHF ...

regards
Martin

[Sarastro]

Once again many thanks to all you German skippers. Local advice is always extremely valuable.

I think that we will start out early morning from somewhere NW of Berlin and then make our way south and east, aiming to navigate the Spree (from west to east) to arrive at the Mühlendammschleuse in time before Funkpflicht hours. Then proceed through the lock and onwards to one of the marinas in Rummelsburger See for mooring over rest of day and night, to do some Berlin land sightseeing.

Now let's say that you arrive at the Mühlendamm waiting point just around 10.30, but there is a queue, so you have to wait until 11.00. Will you then be refused to pass the lock without a radio?

[Pianist]

The present rule says, that you have to pass Lessing Bridge until 10 o'clock, if You want to go from west to east. I think, with that in mind, there will be no problems to use Mühlendamm lock, if You are there at 10.30. The rule doesn't say, that it is necessary to leave the lock until 10.30.

Matthias

[Sarastro]

We've booked the boat from Wolfsbruch (I presume that would be on the border Brandenburg // Mecklenburg?) one way to Potsdam 2 - 9 Juli. Would any of you local skippers have any recommendations for nice mooring locations en route?

[Sarastro]

BTW; if someone is interested in similar information for Stockholm Archipelago or Swedish "Göta Kanal" (and I suppose some UK canals also), then just let me know and I'll do my best to help.

[Sarastro]

Zitat von Pianist

The present rule says, that you have to pass Lessing Bridge until 10 o'clock, if You want to go from west to east. I think, with that in mind, there will be no problems to use Mühlendamm lock, if You are there at 10.30. The rule doesn't say, that it is necessary to leave the lock until 10.30.

Matthias

OK, that makes sense. Thank you.

[Fronmobil]

Would any of you local skippers have any recommendations for nice mooring locations en route?

Maybe this places are good mooring places overnight:

• on the lakes near Fürstenberg
• after the Lehnitz lock
• the Niederneuendorfer See near by Berlin
• Tegeler See (by the little islands)

Please do not anchor in the Canal Havel-Oder-Wasserstrasse!


One nice habor: Oranienburg.


Have fun!

[Pianist]

Zitat von Sarastro

Would any of you local skippers have any recommendations for nice mooring locations en route?

If You are interested in large historic defense buildings, You should have a stop after passing Spandau lock. Just before Charlotten bridge, there is a mooring place on the left side. You can walk to Spandau Citadel. It is located directly beside the lock.

After passing Charlottenburg lock, You will find after about two kilometres the first public mooring place in the City of Berlin. From there, You can walk to Charlottenburg Palace with its large and nice public garden.

Perhaps You should spend at least two days in Berlin. You are also allowed to spend a day at Schiffbauerdamm public mooring place (inside the Funkpflicht area), if You don't move Your boat during the day.

Matthias

[Sarastro]

Thank you for those recommendations.

I have been to Berlin several times, even before die Wende, but never by boat. So in that respect, it will be a new experience...

So let's say that we moor overnight on a weekday early July at one of the islands in Tegeler See (is that OK anywhere on these?), and then set out early morning to reach Plötzensee Schleuse well in time before opening at 09:00. Would you then normally be locked through quick enough to reach Lessingsbrücke before 10.00 and Funkpflicht? Or would it be better to make the detour through Spandau Schleuse and Charlottenburg Schleuse, which both open at 07.00 (but perhaps more congested and occupied by Berufsverkehr).

[Pianist]

Please be aware of the fact, that Plötzensee Schleuse has very special operating times. And if the illness level of the staff is too high, the lock is completely closed, because Plötzensee is a less important lock in Berlin.

And a second information: The Berlin-Spandauer Schiffahrtskanal is closed for pleasure crafts from Westhafen to Humboldthafen. That means: You always have to go via Westhafenkanal along the Highway, and then via Charlottenburger Verbindungskanal or Spree.

I think, the way via Spandau and Charlottenburg is more reliable, because the locks are in operation every day from early in the morning to late in the evening. And the staff is very friendly to private boat drivers, so You normally don't need to wait long.

Matthias

[Fronmobil]

islands in Tegeler See (is that OK anywhere on these?)

No problem.

[Sarastro]

Zitat von Pianist

Please be aware of the fact, that Plötzensee Schleuse has very special operating times. And if the illness level of the staff is too high, the lock is completely closed, because Plötzensee is a less important lock in Berlin.

I think, the way via Spandau and Charlottenburg is more reliable, because the locks are in operation every day from early in the morning to late in the evening. And the staff is very friendly to private boat drivers, so You normally don't need to wait long.

Matthias

Now that's extremely useful information. Thank you very much.

Zitat von Pianist

And a second information: The Berlin-Spandauer Schiffahrtskanal is closed for pleasure crafts from Westhafen to Humboldthafen. That means: You always have to go via Westhafenkanal along the Highway, and then via Charlottenburger Verbindungskanal or Spree.

Matthias

Yes, I was aware from the Net and from the Binnenkarten I have purchased for the planning and navigation.

Zitat von Fronmobil

No problem.

OK, that's great. As much as I would like to, we have only rented the boat for 7 days from Wolfsbruch to Potsdam, so three mooring points near Berlin is probably all we can afford without rushing (Tegeler See, Rummelsburger See, Wannsee and then return noon at Potsdam).

[Sarastro]

You know, with all this local information, plus quite a few previous "land" visits, I'm beginning to feel like Kennedy; Ich bin (ein) Berliner....

Sarastro

[Sarastro]

....und ja, ich spreche Deutch, aber mein Schreiben ist sehr langsam und Sie würde alle meine Grammatik sehr lustig finden.....

[Stoertebeker2010]

off topic:
I guess, JFK didn't know, what he said with his famous words "Ich bin ein Berliner", because nearly everywhere in Germany the word "Berliner" means a kind of donut

[Pianist]

Klaus, this is an often quoted rumor, placed by some of his political anticipators in the USA. Kennedy was perfectly informed and trained by the RIAS radio station director of that time, Robert Lochner, who worked as his personal translator during his visit in Germany.

Matthias