- Water sports 'growing in popularity'
From Sailing to Canoeing and Stand-up Paddling: The List of Watersports is Long
From sailing to canoeing and stand-up paddling, the list of watersports is extensive and can sometimes lead to congestion on various bodies of water in Rhineland-Palatinate. The department of Water Police of the Police Headquarters for Deployment, Logistics, and Technology (ELT) in Mainz reported that recreational traffic on inland waterways has increased. "Activities like sailing, motor boating, canoeing, and stand-up paddling are becoming increasingly popular."
The General Directorate of Waterways and Shipping, based in Bonn, stated that around 450,000 small vessel registration numbers have been issued for sports boats alone in Germany (as of January 2024). This number has been consistently increasing by around 10,000 per year. "There is a rising trend in the sports boat sector," the authority emphasized.
Water Police Reports No Increase in Violations
The Water Police, responsible for monitoring recreational boating on waterways like the Rhine, Mosel, Saar, and Lahn, primarily conduct checks to ensure that permits for operating sports boats are in order and that no one is boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. However, there has been no significant increase in such cases, the Water Police stressed.
The Master Plan for Recreational Boating of the Federal Ministry of Transport states: "The COVID-19 pandemic and a new awareness of sustainable travel are driving a boom on the water." The number of recreational boats and the demands of recreational boating are continuously increasing, while the infrastructure is aging. The plan concludes that recreational boating should be given more attention by the federal waterways administration, and the infrastructure should be better tailored to the needs of watersports enthusiasts in the future.
According to the experience of the Rhineland-Palatinate Motorboat Sports Association, stand-up paddling has particularly increased on rivers like the Mosel and Lahn, as well as on inland lakes. However, there are sometimes issues with professional shipping on the Mosel, said the president of the association, Gisbert König.
Only a Fraction of Boat License Holders Regularly on the Water
König does not see an increase in sports boat licenses for inland waters and the sea. While the number did increase during the COVID-19 period, it has since stabilized. Around 80,000 official boat licenses for inland waters and the sea are issued nationwide each year by the German Motor Yacht Association and the German Sailing Association, with about eight to ten percent of these being issued in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Experience shows that only approximately ten percent of license holders in Germany regularly or permanently engage in boating. The rest may charter a boat occasionally or use their license while on vacation.
The Moselle, being a popular river for watersports in Rhineland-Palatinate, has seen an increase in stand-up paddling activities, as noted by the Rhineland-Palatinate Motorboat Sports Association. Despite this, there have been occasional issues with professional shipping on the Mosel, as mentioned by the association's president, Gisbert König.
