Christiansø

Marina

Last edited 29.08.2023 at 13:20 by NV Charts Team

Latitude

55° 19’ 11.3” N

Longitude

15° 11’ 11” E

Description

Main island of the so-called Pea Islands with a shelter harbour in the sound between the two islands Frederiksø and Christiansø. The harbour, as well as the entire archipelago, is under the control of the Danish Ministry of Defence.

NV Cruising Guide

Navigation

The approach to both harbours is possible day and night. The approach is from the north or south, as the footbridge is not opened for pleasure boats. You enter the north or south harbour in the respective white sector of the Frederiksø beacon (Iso.WRG.4s).
There is a red buoy with a top mark in front of the entrance to the south harbour, which must remain on port side at all costs. Since she often drives away, the south end of the shoal "Snarken" is additionally marked with two sounding beacons (103°) at the south end of Christiansø.

If you cannot enter the harbour because of overcrowding or too high a swell, signals are shown on the signal mast at the south end of Frederiksø: a black ball during the day and 3 fixed lights at night.

All vessels over 20 GRT, except in emergency situations, must report to the harbour master and obtain an entry permit (Tel: +45 40 45 20 14). If the harbour master cannot be reached, the lighthouse watch can be called.(Tel: 56 46 20 14)

Berths

There is a south and a north harbour. In both harbours you can lie quite sheltered (except during north or south storms). However, currents running through the sound must be expected.

SOUTH PORT:
A proper berth can only be found in the south port at the places of the eastern quays. The water depth here is 3 m. Or you can moor on the Frederiksø side with a stern anchor at a water depth of approx. 2 m.
The jetties for the ferries may not be occupied by pleasure craft.

NORD PORT:
Here there are only a few temporary moorings with a stern anchor on the Frederiksø side in front of the slipway with a water depth of approx. 2 m. When deploying a stern anchor, be sure to attach a care line, as there are large chains laid out in the harbour as ground tackle. Free anchoring in the north and south harbours is not permitted, as ferry traffic passing through the Sound must not be obstructed.

Surroundings

On the island there are only very limited supply possibilities at the island merchant. Fresh water is available in small quantities and should be boiled - as it comes from a cistern. Simple sanitary facilities are available. A customs office is open daily from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

On Christiansø and Frederiksø, pets are generally prohibited (exception leashed and on the pier only). The islands of Tat and Graesholm may not be entered. Windsurfing is prohibited in the entire archipelago.

NV Land Guide

Originally Christiansø was a base for pirates. Around 1400 it served the Hanseatic League as a port of refuge and trading centre. After the heyday of the Hanseatic League, the Bornholm fishermen stayed here during the summer months. But the fishermen had to vacate their summer place when the Norwegian fortress architect Colonel Anthon Coucheron entered the Ertholmene (Pea Islands) in the spring of 1684 at the head of two companies of engineer soldiers. On the orders of Christian V, the soldiers built an extensive fortification on Christiansø and Frederiksø. The building material was mainly granite, which was quarried on the spot. The resulting quarries became cisterns, which are still the island's only drinking water reservoir. Long considered impregnable, the fortress did not receive its baptism of fire until 1808, when it served as a privateer base for the Danes in the war against the English. For five hours, an English fleet bombarded the facility, which could not be defended against this attack because the outdated fortress cannons did not have sufficient range. On the other hand, the English did not dare to go ashore either. After they had briefly come within range of the Danish cannons, they had to realize that they would meet fierce resistance.

The fleet, consisting of eight ships, left again, leaving behind a badly damaged fortress, which was not restored until 20 years later. Although the military command was abolished in 1855, the islands are still directly under the control of the Ministry of Defence in Copenhagen. Thus, the lighthouse keeper is a governor as the highest official. Even in peacetime, things were not always peaceful on the islands. For pioneers of democracy, they were a notorious place of exile.

In the small "Ankerhus" on Frederiksø, the Anker family is already running a pottery in the fourth generation. At the same time, the Ankers always have to keep a close eye on the television programme and the weather. When there are football matches and the foghorn is switched on, the electricity for the kiln is no longer sufficient.

The "pea islanders" also have to be particularly sparing with their supply of drinking water in the cisterns when it doesn't rain for a long time. The service water on the pea islands is seawater. Sports boaters have to take into account that there is no fresh water at all.

Today, about 120 people live on the islands, which are visited by very many tourists during the season. The entire archipelago (17 kilometres northeast of Bornholm) consists of Christiansø, Frederiksø and the Græsholmen bird sanctuary, as well as a number of larger and smaller archipelagos.

For the pleasure boaters, it is good to know: Tourists arrive from Bornholm on passenger liners only in the late morning and leave the port in the early afternoon. During the rest of the time, the island belongs to the locals, some permanent guests and the yachtsmen, who, however, have to pay a hefty harbour fee. The museum in the fortress tower on Frederiksø has exhibits of the trades once practised here and of the archipelago's martial past. It is also dedicated to bird life, as the Pea Islands are known as a station for the great bird migrations and a breeding place for huge colonies of seabirds. The herring gull, which is very aggressive against other bird species, even causes so much trouble for bird conservationists that it is now necessary to destroy eggs of these birds.

For more than 100 years, the small islands have been a popular destination for artists. Well-known painters such as Holger Drachmann were taken with the special light conditions of the Ertholmene. Those who explore the islands with their Mediterranean atmosphere on foot should remember that it is forbidden to enter the fortress walls. As on Bornholm, mulberry trees, even figs and melons thrive in the small gardens of Frederiksø and Christiansø. The cosy pub in the former barracks buildings by the harbour on Christiansø is a recommendable place to end the day.

Marina Information

Max Depth 3 m

Contact

Phone +45 4045 2014
Email Please enable Javascript to read
Website https://www.christiansoe.dk

Surroundings

Electricity

Water

Toilet

Shower

Crane

Grocery

Ramp

Garbage

Comments

P, Neisrider
Sehr schöne kleine Insel! Infotext zum Hafen sollte überarbeitet werden. Frischwasser am Hafen ist vorhanden. Moderne Süßwasserduschen sind verfügbar (10 DKK/6min). Im Sommer wie überall voll. (Liegen im Päckchen)
29.07.2022 20:15

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