Hamburg (Övelgönne)
Hamburg Elbe · Övelgönne · Hamburg Museumshafen
53°32.7'N 09°53.5'E
Depth
4–8m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m alarm radius for the Övelgönne city anchorage in 4–8m tidal Elbe mud. The 3–4kt ebb current swings the boat hard; scope of 6:1 essential at 4–5m depth. Increase to 100m in strong tidal conditions. The tidal range of 2–3m means the anchor must be set at the right state of tide — best set just after HW slack when current is minimal.
About This Anchorage
Hamburg's Övelgönne anchorage is one of Europe's most extraordinary urban anchorages — set against the spectacular backdrop of the world's largest warehouse district (Speicherstadt, UNESCO), the massive red-brick Elbphilharmonie concert hall, and the constant procession of giant container ships entering and leaving the world's 3rd busiest port. The Museumshafen Övelgönne harbours historic steamships and lightships — the anchorage is directly adjacent to the museum ships. Hamburg (population 1.8 million) is Germany's largest port city and the gateway to the North Sea — the Elbe carries 400–500 commercial vessels per day. The anchorage requires careful tidal planning and strong ground tackle, but the experience of lying at anchor in front of Hamburg's skyline while supertankers pass within 200m is unforgettable. The Övelgönne beach is directly behind the anchorage — a popular Hamburg summer meeting point.
Protected From
N · NW · W · SW
Exposed To
S · SE · E · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (river anchorage); marina fee Övelgönne approx €20–30/night
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: NO anchoring in Fahrwasser (main shipping channel — marked by buoys); monitor VHF Ch 73 Elbe Traffic mandatory; VHF 12 Hamburg Port; large ship wash: secure all deck gear; tidal range 2–3m.
Hazards
- !Massive commercial shipping traffic — 400–500 vessels/day; container ships, cruise liners, tankers; their wash is 0.5–1m; secure everything on deck
- !Strong tidal currents 3–4kt on ebb — vessel yaws and surges; set anchor at HW slack; 6:1 scope minimum
- !NO anchoring in Fahrwasser (shipping channel) — strictly enforced by Wasserschutzpolizei Hamburg; channel boundaries clearly buoyed
- !Tidal range 2–3m at Hamburg — anchor set at HW may be in different conditions at LW; monitor depth at anchor
- !Monitor VHF Ch 73 Elbe Traffic at all times when underway on the Elbe
Skipper's Tips
- →Arrive at HW slack (2h after HW Cuxhaven) — set the anchor in minimum current; let the ebb and flood test it before sleeping
- →The Sunday fish market at Altona (5:30am–9:30am) is one of Hamburg's great traditions — arrive by dinghy to the Övelgönne jetty and walk 15 minutes
- →The Elbphilharmonie (concert hall on the water) is 2nm upstream — take the dinghy to the Baumwall landing and walk up
- →Hamburg's Speicherstadt (1885–1927 warehouse district, UNESCO 2015) is a 15-minute walk from Övelgönne — the world's largest contiguous brick warehouse complex
- →For departing upriver: flood current runs east-northeast 3–4kt; time departure for early flood (2–3h after LW Cuxhaven) for a free push into Hamburg — ideal for visiting City Sporthafen
Facilities
Övelgönne beach has seasonal beach bars. Altona fish market (15 min walk) — Sunday morning famous fish market. City centre: full services. Chandleries at Altona harbour.
Nearest provisions: Altona Markt / Ottensen (20 min walk) (1nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, July, August, September
May–September. Hamburg is an all-year port — the anchorage is accessible year-round but winter conditions (cold, strong winds, ice possible in January–February) make summer strongly preferable.
Recommended Anchor Types
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
On the tidal Elbe with 3–4kt currents and hundreds of ships daily, Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
Download Free for iOS