Overview
- A DGzRS crew rescued a kitesurfer from slushy 'Eisgries' on the Großenbroder Binnensee on February 3 using the daughterboat Vegesack, with air at about −3 °C and water near 0 °C.
- Ferry links are suspended to Wangerooge since Wednesday and to Spiekeroog on Thursday as harbors freeze and low water complicates access, with other North Sea routes also curtailed.
- On the Baltic coast, ice thicker than 20 cm is reported in approaches to Stralsund; icebreakers Arkona and Görmitz are freeing ships, night sailing is restricted in places, and priority is given to ports such as Mukran, Rostock oil and ferry terminals, Lübeck ferry terminals, and the Kiel Fjord.
- Hiddensee remains difficult to reach, with the passenger ferry still out, emergency-only travel on the icebreaker Swanti, supply runs by Görmitz, and the Prerow island harbor reported unnavigable as DGzRS repositions assets.
- Inland navigation faces widening closures, including a new shutdown Friday evening on the Mittellandkanal between Minden and Anderten, while Berlin deploys icebreakers Seelöwe and Seeotter to keep wood and coal moving to power plants and warns against venturing onto deceptive ice.