Overview
- The ferry Vitte suffered an ice-related leak and is in a Stralsund shipyard for repairs, with officials estimating a 7–10 day outage and the operator hoping to resume service by Wednesday.
- The Swanti now runs a three-times-daily emergency route between Vitte and Wittow Süd, operating under a registration system that prioritizes islanders and medical cases.
- The Waterways and Shipping Authority and the Ship Safety Commission initially restricted carriage to emergencies, then moved to a special-permit framework following an inspection that cleared tightly limited transfers.
- Capacity and access remain constrained on the icebreaker, which can take roughly 20 people per trip and cannot currently accommodate wheelchairs.
- Tourist travel is discouraged until at least February 3, police presence on the island has been temporarily increased, and the WSA’s vessel Görmitz is being scheduled to help move essential goods.