Newsletter March 2026
Welcome
v. Port Director Mogens Pedersen
Hereby, the 4th edition of our newsletter is published. We hope that you will enjoy reading the newsletter. With the newsletter, we would like to inform you about some of the topics that we are currently focusing on here at Hvide Sande Port.
It has been a somewhat peculiar winter with a lot of eastern winds and ice formations in the fjord, but now spring is lurking around the corner. We probably need it as well. It brings more life to the town and also brings more life to the Port.
Hvide Sande Port had record turnover in 2025 of nearly 48 million DKK, and a profit of over 7 million DKK. This gives the Port the opportunity to continue developing, and right now there is a good deal of construction going on for a new quay over by the West Harbor, and the back areas there are also being improved. Finally, we have applied for dredging to 8 meters, so we can handle more tasks here in Hvide Sande.
Happy reading. If you wish to be subscribed or unsubscribed as an automatic recipient of this newsletter, you can contact the undersigned at mp@hvshavn.dk.
What's happening at the Port
As part of Hvide Sande Port's strategic objectives, we are continuously working on better waste sorting. As much waste as possible should be reused/recycled, and the volumes of combustible waste and especially landfill waste should be minimized. In the near future, we will be placing new waste bins at the quays designed for ship waste. Together with the initiatives we have already implemented, we expect better sorting of the various waste volumes, which will contribute to reduced CO2 emissions.
Dredging of the marina has been completed in collaboration with Hvide Sande Shipyard, and the season is now secured for the boating community on the fjord side. It is also expected that the fairway from Tyskerhaven will be cleaned and prepared for the season.
The relocation of the equipment houses on Beddingsvej has been completed, and all houses are now located in the area close to the lock.
New washing stations have been established at the camper sites. Furthermore, we are working on setting up new payment systems at the camper sites, allowing for card payment instead of cash, which has been in high demand.
It has become increasingly difficult for Hvide Sande Port to use herbicides, which is why we have now acquired an environmentally friendly version for weed control. The solution consists of a hot water vaporizer that controls weeds without chemicals.
New outdoor lighting has been established on the exterior side of the fish auction towards the harbor basin, providing new and modern lighting for the benefit of those who walk around the quay areas.
As most probably have noticed, filming is once again taking place at Hvide Sande Port. It is Nordisk Film making a film about Cheminova, and they have found the surroundings in Hvide Sande to be attractive. The film will be released in 2027.
In collaboration with stakeholders for Skjern Å and the salmon population, we have obtained the Nature Agency's permission to regulate cormorants at the mouth of Ringkøbing fjord/Skjern Å. Regulation is carried out to protect the migrating smolt (smolt is a young salmon or trout in the phase where it leaves the rivers and migrates out to sea). The permission is valid from March 23 to May 31, 2026. The actual regulation is performed by hunters under the hunting act and wildlife management rules from specific locations on the port's areas.
No bidders for the area at Sluseøen
As previously mentioned, we had a bidding deadline on January 16, 2026, for potential investors for the area at Sluseøen. Unfortunately, there were no bidders. Judging from feedback from advisors and others, there has likely been concern regarding the lengthy administrative processes that are part of such a project, as well as some feeling that Hvide Sande Port has been a bit too risk-averse. The Port is now in a brainstorming phase regarding how we can move forward. Perhaps we as a port should work to resolve some of the administrative challenges, and we are also looking into whether we can create interest by taking more responsibility for some of the environmental and economic risks associated with the project.
Finally, one might believe that the project will be strengthened by the municipality's efforts to establish a swing bridge and City Square. These are municipal projects that have received significant support from especially the Business Promotion Board, but also Realdania, Danish Coastal and Nature Tourism, and Hvide Sande Port. The finished project is scheduled for 2027. Right now, special focus is on designing a swing bridge that can handle both practical requirements and changing weather conditions and water levels.
Henning's anecdotes: Caught by the lift bridge!
If you live in Hvide Sande, you know it: The road over the chamber lock is the town's bottleneck if you are coming from the north or south - or just driving to the harbor, you have to go over the bridge.
In the 90s, up to 1,600 ships passed through the lock annually. Nowadays, traffic has decreased, but the stories... well, they certainly haven't decreased.
The lift bridge - the town's best excuse
The lift bridge has not only served for passage - for decades it has been the students' best excuse for being late, saving many from reprimands and a trip to the principal's office.
When the teacher asked: “Why are you only arriving now?”, the answer came quickly: “The bridge was up, and the ship took forever to get through!”
It worked so well that students from the north side tried their luck too - until the teacher realized they lived on the north side and didn’t need to go over the bridge to get to school.
The bridge and the police - a collaboration with action film potential
The bridge has also had a rather... shall we say, more active role in local crime history.
The police and the guard have had a good cooperation over the years. Many local officers have drunk quite a few cups of coffee at the guard, and there have been several small missions where the bridge was the secret weapon.
The summer house burglars with poor timing
One morning in the 90s, the police called the guard: “We are chasing a stolen car driving south from Søndervig. Can you open the bridge?”
“Sure!” replies the guard. The bridge is opened and stands there like a huge STOP sign, while the locals in line wonder: “Why isn't there a ship coming to pass through…?”
In the queue from the north side, a station wagon is parked, and the passengers begin to look more and more nervous. Suddenly the doors fling open, and three men bolt in different directions: One runs along the bridge and hides by Blåttarn. Another sneaks over to Otto Peders vej. One disappears behind the bedding and hides behind a stack of wood.
The guard was able to keep an eye on the three from the car and could precisely see where each of them was hiding. When the police arrived and stood looking into an empty car, the guard called the police and pointed them in the right direction where they could find the three from the car. One by one they were arrested.
The dog kidnappers, who waited patiently
A few years later, the police rang again: “We have a couple who have stolen a dog from a dog kennel that we would like to talk to. Can you open the bridge until we have spoken with them?”
The bridge was opened, and the same situation unfolded: The queue became long, and the locals wondered again about the absence of ships.
The couple in the car sat completely still and calm - as if they hadn't figured out that there was probably a reason why the bridge was suddenly open with not a single vessel in sight for miles.
The police arrived, walked up to the car, knocked on the window and asked plainly: “Don’t you have a dog too many in there?”
And that case was wrapped up too.
So yes - the bridge can be a pain sometimes, we all know that.
You sit there in the car, looking at the clock, looking at the bridge, and think: “Oh come on... do I really have to sit here and stare again?”
But the truth is that even though the bridge can be incredibly annoying, it can also be used for many things: it saves school kids from reprimands, helps the police, and gives the rest of us a good story to tell! - and then there was the time the bridge shut down, but that story will come later.
Have you heard that: Hvide Sande Port is working to get back the crane that was used to close the canal in 2015?
Key figures
We are well into 2026, but still lack the final key figures to provide a complete and accurate overview of the year's initial months. This means that we cannot yet present the overall picture of development at the beginning of the year - but the activity level at the port already indicates a good start to 2026.
Fishing in Hvide Sande port went well in 2025, especially concerning industrial fish and crabs. Cargo over the quay fell slightly to 141,000 tons from 151,000 tons the year before.
This positive development in fishing is due in part to favorable weather conditions as well as an increasing landing of both industrial fish and crabs, along with good prices. At the same time, the cargo throughput over the quay saw a slight decline compared to last year, where 151,000 tons was handled; in 2025, it was 141,000 tons over the quay.
Despite this small decrease in cargo volume, the port is still expected to play an important role in the local economy, and initiatives are already underway that aim to strengthen both fishing and cargo activities in the coming years.
In 2025, the depth at the entrance has been good, with over 7 meters in at least one fairway throughout the year. The entrance is surveyed about 60 times a year, and the depths' quality is assessed each time.
Board's election
Hvide Sande Port has a new board. Hvide Sande Port is a municipal self-governing port. This means that the port is owned by the municipality, but we have considerable independence. It also means that one of the new council's first tasks is to approve the composition of a new board. The council has appointed Lennart Qvist and Carsten Bjerg as the two council members of the board. In addition, they have approved the recommendation from the Sydvestjysk Fishing Association of Thomas Rahbek Sloth to the board. Finally, they have approved the proposal that Hans Schneider, Steen Davidsen, Richard Hvas, and Lisbeth Valther constitute the four remaining board members. Subsequently, the board has constituted itself with Hans Schneider as chairman and Lennart Qvist as vice-chairman.
A has heard down at the quay: That the sand eel quota this year will be 6,452 tons in area 2, and 8,549 tons in area 1. Expected start in mid-April.
A new Fisheries House is approaching on the horizon
The first outlines of the future Fisheries House are slowly appearing on the horizon. Three prominent architectural firms have submitted sketch proposals for how Hvide Sande's dramatic history can be displayed in new buildings with new exhibitions that could become a landmark for the town. The three proposals are very different, but they all build on the further development of the existing structures.
There is a long way to go and much that needs to fall into place before the lifeboat is set in motion in a new large exhibition, before the story of the lock is ready, and before a new exhibition can tell the story of the incredible development in fishing from hook fishing on the beach over blue trawl boats to today. Work is being done on the matter, but for now, it is behind the scenes.
But there is news from the Fisheries House in the meantime. The 2026 season will include a new exhibition about World War II on the West Coast and in Hvide Sande. A reconstructed bunker will bring guests back to the time when German soldiers nervously scanned the sea. Is the invasion coming?
Demolition of the rescue station
Back in 2023, Hvide Sande Port purchased the old rescue station at Nordhavnskaj with the aim of demolishing it. The intention is to prepare the area for new activities.
The rescue station is part of the original Hvide Sande but has not been used as a rescue station for many years, and the building is today in serious disrepair and located in the middle of a commercial area where there is a need for more modern buildings. Hvide Sande Port does not have many opportunities to expand, and large parts of our areas are nature reserves, so we must ensure that the areas that can actually be used are utilized as well as possible.
We are well aware that it would have been fortunate to preserve the building, and we have considered what we can do to keep the memory of the building alive.
We have asked Ringkøbing Fjord Museums to photograph the building both inside and out. Additionally, we will save relevant parts of the building, such as window frames, rafters, etc., so that other actors can see these things or perhaps even reuse them. We have also considered whether we should allow people to come and collect bricks from the station during the demolition. Because many years ago, one could get small pieces of the Berlin Wall as a memento of that wall, in the same way, it might be interesting for some to get bricks from the Rescue Station as a memento of it. If you have other ideas on how we can ensure that the memory of the rescue station doesn’t completely fade away, we would love to hear them.
ISO certification, what is it and why is it important
Hvide Sande Port was first certified in January 2023 under ISO standards 9000 (quality), 14001 (Environment), and 45001 (occupational health). We were recertified in January 2026 for a new 3-year period.
The purpose of the certification is a management commitment to ensure a qualified and structured approach to work within the areas of the standards for the benefit of employees, customers, port users, and external stakeholders. The latter can be various authorities such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Coastal Directorate, the Maritime Authority, the Traffic Agency, and Ringkøbing-Skjern municipality.
From a management perspective, it means that all significant parameters within the three standards are continuously reported and evaluated, and the work with the standards ensures continuous improvement of quality, environment, and working conditions.
Quay 109 - where past and future meet
Work on the establishment of Quay 109 is well underway, and as often happens when one builds upon the port's history, the project has also encountered significant obstacles during the work. Here, large stone blocks and old concrete bags have emerged - remnants from when the canal was closed in the early 1900s.
Nordre Sikring was originally established in connection with the closure of the canal in 1915, and historical accounts tell us that a fierce storm in 1912 washed parts of the then-protection away. Back then, large blocks and concrete bags were hastily thrown into the water to protect the canal and rebuild the protection. More than 100 years later, it is precisely these massive materials that we have once again encountered during the construction work.
It has been exciting to see what was hidden in the depths when we have come across old materials and remnants from earlier times during the work. Each new discovery has given us a small glimpse into the port's history and the challenges that were handled back then.
Although the encounter with the old blocks has presented some challenges in execution, it has not changed the direction or significance of the project. The challenges have been handled through technical adjustments and redesign in close collaboration between the contractor, advisors, and the port. Work continues according to the revised plan, and the project is still on track for completion.
Quay 109 is an important step in Hvide Sande Port's further development. The new quay and the associated back area provide better conditions for handling bulk, project cargo, and offshore activities, enhancing the port's flexibility and capacity. At the same time, Quay 109 is helping to lay the groundwork for new opportunities and activities in the port - benefiting both local businesses and the community.
When Quay 109 is completed, it will be a clear example of how the port's history and future are interconnected - built on the past's solutions and with a focus on the development of the coming decades.
Facts about quay 109 - Length: 100 meters - Depth at quay: 7 meters - Back area: 3,500 m2
