Newsletter September 2025
Welcome
Welcome to the 2nd edition of our newsletter. Thank you for your kind remarks about the 1st edition, which was released in June. We will strive to meet the expectations.
Our goal is to inform users of the Harbor and others who are interested in the harbor about major and minor events at the Harbor.
The newsletter is distributed to a number of email addresses and is also shared via our website. If you, as a reader, would like to be on the mailing list, please give us a shout, see the email address at the end of the newsletter. If you would like to opt-out of receiving the newsletter, you can also let us know.
What's happening at the harbor
In the last couple of years, we have been working to establish a new quay at the West Harbor. The project for quay 109 was put out to tender in August, and the harbor's board has now approved that we can start the construction work. However, before construction can begin, we still need to have the necessary authority approvals in place. We expect the quay to be completed by the end of 2026.
The harbor established a new floating dock at Otto Pedersvej in the spring, so there is now a small marina reserved for leisure boats. We have received praise from several sources for the initiative. It has also been a great success over the summer and contributes to making Otto Pedersvej an attractive gathering point for locals and visitors.
Improved lighting has been established in central working areas, including diesel delivery, industrial quay, and trawl stretch, contributing to increased safety and better working conditions for the fishing industry.
In August, new asphalt was laid on quay 81 and quay 81a to improve conditions for those working at the quays.
The challenges we have had with the Eiva buoy now seem to be resolved in collaboration with the supplier, and the buoy has functioned perfectly in recent months.
To meet a growing need for more parking spaces on Beddingsvej near Hvide Sande Shipyard, the relocation of 5 tool sheds has been planned, allowing for the expansion of the existing parking area. The relocation is expected to be completed by the end of October.
The tenants of the tool sheds at Tyskerhaven have been contacted with a view to clearing up around the sheds and repairing the buildings that need some tender loving care. The harbor will continuously follow up to ensure that the work progresses as planned.
The winter bathers have requested a small extension to the existing changing house, which the harbor has agreed to. The work will commence as soon as possible.
The drainage sluice has undergone a major renovation internally and now looks entirely newly painted. In a short time, the old floor tiles will be cleaned so that they also appear in very nice condition.
We have established environmental stations in our overnight parking areas, which we think work really well, while also supporting our waste sorting and strengthening the harbor's environmental profile.
Key figures August 2025
There is progress in the landed amount of industrial fish in the first 8 months, from 21,200 tons in 2024 to 29,500 tons in 2025.
Landings and value of fish for the auction have been reduced in the first 8 months compared to 2024, nearly halving the landed amount. For shrimp fishing, 25% has been landed compared to the same period last year.
In the amount of goods over the quay, there is a decrease of 9,000 tons compared to 2024; in 2025, 90,000 tons have been unloaded over the quay.
Construction materials, stone and gravel are the dominant categories in 2025.
Unexpected guests in Hvide Sande Harbor
As most have probably seen in the press and news, Hvide Sande Harbor was the focal point of a case in July and August where an apparently restricted vessel from the Russian shadow fleet sought harbor. According to EU legislation, it is forbidden to receive restricted vessels.
The school ship SHTANDART (a replica of Peter the Great's sailing ship from the 17th century) arrived at Hvide Sande Harbor on July 28, as it had broken a bracket holding the storm mast on the ship. Therefore, it was a justified request for harbor. The ship departed again on July 30 after having repaired the damages.
Although there were some who wanted to portray it as if the harbor had acted illegally, we were not in doubt that it was entirely in accordance with the law for the ship to enter the harbor. It has also been established by the authorities that the harbor acted completely legally.
Hvide Sande Harbor has maintained a continuous dialogue with the authorities regarding the case and has received praise for the proactive approach we have taken to the situation.
The case has, however, led us to tighten the guidelines to ensure that restricted vessels do not dock at Hvide Sande Harbor, and that we are in dialogue with the authorities about how such vessels are handled.
Did you know that the tendering of the new offshore wind farms off Hvide Sande will begin in the autumn?
Tourism in 2025
One of the important activities for Hvide Sande Harbor is tourism, and therefore it is also nice to see from Blåttårn that there has been good activity in the town. We live in a troubled world, but precisely for that reason, the calmness, coziness, and activity in Hvide Sande are so attractive.
It is no secret that there is quite a bit of overnight parking at the harbor, and there have been more motorhomes in 2025 than there were in 2024. But it is also the impression from accommodation agencies that there have been a few more guests. The month of July has been characterized by quite a few Danes, and in recent months, it has been the Germans who have marked the street scene.
It has not been without problems that the drawbridge over Kammerslusen was renovated this September. It has created a lot of traffic congestion in the middle of the town, and some shops have been affected by this. Fortunately, the bridge should now be ready for another 20 years.
There is also no doubt that parking conditions and signage could be improved. The parking conditions will probably never be perfect, but Hvide Sande Harbor has invited the municipality and Hvidesande.by to a discussion to find out what can be done. Already in the spring, we got some good ideas, but if there are any ideas among the readers, we would be happy to hear them.
Henning's anecdotes:
Sumajabugten
Sumajabugten in Mamrelund is most known as a mooring place for houseboats. The bay is located to the east in Mamrelund, where there is a view over Ringkøbing Fjord, but why is it actually called Sumajabugten?
From 1980 to 2000, fishing in Hvide Sande – just like in the rest of Denmark – underwent a significant change. The introduction of the EU's quota system and national regulations made it clear that the fleet was too large in relation to the available quotas. Decommissioning schemes thus became a central tool: many cutters had to be retired, often with heavy consequences for the families that had relied on fishing as their means of existence. The quays, which had previously been filled with vessels, gradually became dominated by fewer, but larger vessels.
In Hvide Sande, ship decommissioning also took place. In the eastern part of Mamrelund, a specially designated area was set up for a company specializing in shipbreaking. In the 1990s, several vessels were decommissioned here, including both fishing vessels and other types of ships.
The last vessel to be decommissioned was “SUMAJA” from Nexø, but unfortunately, the company went bankrupt, and the decommissioning was not completed.
Hvide Sande Harbor was therefore left with a hull, without an owner. The superstructure had been removed, and only the hull remained. The hull lying at the quay was unfortunately leaking, and required supervision from the harbor guard. When the hull was getting full of water, it would need to be pumped with submersible pumps to prevent it from sinking. After a few years, it was decided that the harbor would finance the final decommissioning of the ship, and the hull from SUMAJA was finally scrapped.
And that's where the name Sumajabugten comes from.
After Holmsland Municipality took over the harbor from the State Harbor Administration in 2001, it became possible to change the use. Sumajabugten was rented out. The bay was deepened, and a mooring place for houseboats was established.
Remember that, the next newsletter will come out in January. If you have suggestions for content, you are welcome to write to Mogens at mp@hvshavn.dk
Fishing, the DNA of Hvide Sande
Fishermen in Hvide Sande have always been accustomed to managing in rough conditions – literally. In the past, it was about the weather. Today, it is heavily also about regulations, fuel prices, and environmental demands. Especially the latter creates many myths that do not hold up to reality.
Trawl fishing has often been condemned as a threat to the marine environment, but the picture is much more nuanced than many believe. About two-thirds of the Danish sea floor is never touched by bottom-fishing gear, and the trawl fishing that takes place is concentrated in relatively small areas. In fact, three-quarters of all trawl fishing happens in just ten percent of the Danish sea area. Trawl fishing primarily occurs on sand and mud bottoms, which are more robust than, for example, areas with rocky reefs.
Research shows that the impact on marine animals in the affected areas is limited, typically around six percent, and that the seabed has a great ability to regenerate after being affected. The areas where you see dead marine areas with no life are often due to oxygen depletion caused by nutrients from land and not trawl fishing.
Additionally, fishing only takes place with bottom trawl in deeper waters starting from about 15–20 meters out, which means that the trawl does not affect eelgrass, which only grows in shallow water. Some species, such as sea feathers and sea anemones, are more sensitive, and therefore special regulations and closed areas where trawl fishing is not allowed have been implemented.
Overall, it paints a picture of a fishing method that is subject to strict regulations and constant technological development to reduce environmental impact, while also making up a large part of Danish fishing.
When it comes to the climate footprint of our food, fish stands out clearly as one of the most sustainable sources of protein.
Even though fishing uses fuel, emissions are significantly lower than with meat production on land. For example, one kilo of cod caught in the North Sea with trawl typically emits between two and five kilos of CO₂, while pork is around six to eight kilos, and beef can emit as much as 25–35 kilos of CO₂ per kilo of meat.
Looking at pelagic species such as herring and mackerel, the climate footprint is even lower – often under two kilos of CO₂ – which makes them some of the most climate-friendly proteins we can eat. At the same time, fish does not require agricultural land, fertilizers, or large amounts of freshwater, which further supports the image of fish as a central part of a more sustainable food supply.
Fishing in Hvide Sande is more than just a profession – it is a lifeline that has created jobs, culture, and identity along the West Coast for generations.
The local fishermen have shown that they can adapt to both the forces of nature and the many demands that society and politicians impose while providing one of the most climate-friendly foods we can set on the table. That is a strength we can be proud of as a community.
At the same time, it is also our collective responsibility to ensure that fishing continues to have a place in Hvide Sande – not just as a profession, but as part of the soul of the city. If we maintain fishing here, we also preserve an active and vibrant harbor for the benefit of the town and the local area.
Did you know that on January 1, 2026, it will be 25 years since Holmsland Municipality took over Hvide Sande Harbor?
Sluice Island
In mid-October, an exciting tender process will commence here in Hvide Sande, where it will be possible to bid on Sluice Island right in the middle of Hvide Sande. It is a project that has also been talked about and is a central element of the strategic-physical development plan from 2020 and the overall plan for Hvide Sande from 2024.
Hvide Sande Harbor will lease about 6,000 square meters, and it is our hope that stores, holiday apartments, hotels, or offices can be established on the site. It is important that the construction also becomes an asset for Hvide Sande. Therefore, we hope that the development will also include content that the average citizen can enjoy in some way.
In the tender materials, we propose a building of up to 4 stories. However, we also suggest that it could be built up to 7 stories, but that requires further dialogue with the municipality. This would mean that it would be a slightly slimmer building, allowing for better visibility over the harbor areas from Søndergade. Furthermore, there would not be any significant disturbances to neighbors, and across from Søndergade, there is also a tall building, so it may be beneficial to build upwards in many ways.
It is no secret that it is a noise-challenged area. Therefore, solutions must be found in connection with any construction to alleviate the noise coming from Søndergade and nearby businesses.
The building must be elevated so that owners can be confident that water won’t enter even during heavy storms.
Finally, we will certainly emphasize that it should be an attractive building. The building will have a central location, and therefore it should be a building that everyone can be pleased to look at.
In connection with the construction, the municipality will erect a swing bridge from the extension of Bredgade to the southwest corner of Sluice Island, as well as establish a “Town Square” that will function as a square in the area between Cafe Gaflen and Kammerslusen.
We hope that the construction will have the following advantages for the town:
1) There will be a better connection between north and south.
2) There will be possibilities for everyone to enjoy the building.
3) The building will be a beautiful and natural focal point in the town.
4) There will be more opportunities for experiences in Hvide Sande.
Did you know that activities at Hvide Sande Harbor had a direct and indirect impact for 1,496 man-years across all of Denmark in 2024?
Congratulations on the anniversary to Seasight Group
2025 has been a milestone year for Seasight Group, which turned 75 years old, and therefore also had an open house at the end of August.
The company is one of the longest-standing customers of Hvide Sande Harbor and has always been a decisive part of the Harbor's identity – as a harbor.
In 1950, the company was called Hvide Sande Shipbuilding and Boatbuilding, and back then the task was the construction and repair of fishing cutters. The company’s first director was Carl Erik Kristensen, and his descendants have been involved in the management since then.
Up until the 80s, fishing was clearly the most important activity, but like many other companies in Hvide Sande, it also showed a remarkable ability to adapt to new markets and realities. In the 80s, production of the first steel vessels began.
During the 90s, where declining quotas and a halt to new constructions in fishing made it difficult for Danish shipyards, Hvide Sande Shipbuilding and Boatbuilding focused on building special vessels and attracted the first offshore wind activities. Many shipyards in Denmark closed, while Hvide Sande Shipbuilding and Boatbuilding survived through innovation, quality, flexibility, and specialization.
My own first personal impression of the shipyard came when they delivered a large frigate to Tivoli in 1993. Since the ship was only supposed to lie in Tivoli’s lake, it couldn't really sail, and therefore most of the transport from Hvide Sande was done on a barge. The last stretch in Copenhagen took place during four nighttime hours on a slowly moving flatbed truck in the city's busy streets. Finally, a crane lifted it over the fence into Tivoli, while night walkers could see something as rare as a flying ship. Hvide Sande Shipbuilding and Boatbuilding could do many different things!
They also began producing ferries, and at the end of the 90s, they started producing CTVs for the operation of offshore wind activities. Today, the company consists of Hvide Sande Shipyard, Seasight Solutions, Seasight Davits, and Hvide Sande Agency and Supply. The latter company has an important task for Hvide Sande Harbor as an agent, stevedore, and loader/unloader of ships in Hvide Sande Harbor.
Since its inception in 1950, there have been many other types of activities and thus revenue opportunities for Hvide Sande Harbor. Tourism also has significant importance for the harbor, and offshore wind will likely also gain increasing significance in the coming years. But precisely for that reason, it is important that there is also room and accommodation for the activities that have over the years contributed to shaping Hvide Sande Harbor, where Shipbuilding and Boatbuilding – Seasight Solutions has been an important player and to this day is by far the company that creates the most employment on Hvide Sande Harbor's areas.
Congratulations on the anniversary.
Out of the 1,496 man-years, 670 man-years were in Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality.
New Year's Reception 2026
On Friday, January 16, 2026, from 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM, there will be a New Year's Reception at Fiskeriets Hus – and you are invited.
The New Year's Reception is organized in collaboration with the Southwest Jutland Fishermen's Association and HSSG. There will be an opportunity to hear about the year’s events in fishing and at the harbor, and there will be presentations from Svend Brinkmann, who is a professor of general psychology at Aalborg University, known for several books and also an avid social debater.
Participation in the actual event will be free.
A formal invitation will be sent out later, but if you write to the email address at the end of the newsletter, you can already secure your spot. The event is open to all interested parties.