The Local Germany

More than 500 seals born on historic German island in three months

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 10:14:53 +0100

The birthplace of Germany's national anthem and a practice bombing range for British airmen after World War II, Helgoland island in the North Sea turns cuddly at the turn of the year as grey seals arrive to give birth.

WWI German submarine found off Belgian coast with 23 bodies inside

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 16:49:38 +0200

Divers have found a well-preserved wreck of a German submarine sunk during the First World War in the North Sea, Belgian officials said on Tuesday. The bodies of its crew members were found aboard the vessel as well.

Germans have right to squeeze sand between their toes for free, court rules

Thu, 14 Sep 2017 13:17:10 +0200

The Federal Administrative Court ruled on Wednesday that charging entrance fees for two German North Sea beaches was illegal, a ruling which is set to have change the rules of the game all along the German coastlines.

23,000 mini umbrellas erected on north German beach in world record attempt

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 13:58:32 +0200

Thousands of cocktail umbrellas were placed on the beach to create a colourful mosaic in the North Sea resort town of Esens-Bensersiel on Sunday in an attempt to set a new world record.

Record numbers of baby seals born on North German islands

Tue, 01 Mar 2016 11:26:40 +0100

A bonanza year for seal-watchers: the population of the cute grey squealers in the North sea is growing and so are the numbers of Germans coming to gawp at them.

Two sperm whales wash up on German coast

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 10:51:24 +0100

In a unique event, two sperm whales have washed up together on the German North Sea coast. Experts suspect the pair mistakenly took a detour into the shallow waters between Britain and Europe.

Rescued seal pups swim to freedom - pics

Thu, 15 Aug 2013 10:30:00 +0200

Keepers released a group of young seals into the North Sea on Wednesday, after spending six weeks rearing them back to health.

Wind park building noise 'can kill porpoises'

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:50:00 +0100

German scientists are working to prevent the noise from building oceanic wind parks from damaging the hearing of whales and dolphins, after it emerged that the noise could be deadly for sea mammals.

More porpoises die in North Sea than normal

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:31:00 +0200

The number of harbour porpoises washing up dead on Germany’s North Sea beaches has been unusually high this year, sparking concern among environmentalists who are trying to figure out what has been killing them.

German seas 'among best in the world'

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:50:00 +0200

Germany's seas are deemed far above average for natural and human considerations – the seventh best in the world according to the most comprehensive health check of national waters.

Police search for missing boy on island

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:32:00 +0200

Police have mobilized helicopters, boats and tracker dogs in their search for a young boy who has gone missing on a tiny island in the North Sea.

North Sea island is jewel in German house market

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 17:24:00 +0200

The most expensive property in Germany is not in one of the bustling big cities, but on the windy North Sea island of Sylt, where houses can cost up to €35,000 per square metre, a high-end estate agent revealed on Wednesday.

Three killed in offshore wind farm construction

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:29:00 +0200

Building offshore wind parks can be a deadly occupation. Three construction workers have already drowned whilst working on German projects in the North and Baltic Seas. 80 serious accidents have been registered, it was reported Sunday.

World War II munitions litter Baltic and North Sea

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:40:00 +0100

More than 1.6 million tonnes of old war munitions remain at the bottom of the Baltic and North Seas in German waters, creating an ever-present danger for fishermen or workers laying pipeline in the region.

North Sea islanders vote on 'reunification'

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 13:08:00 +0200

Residents of the small North Sea archipelago of Helgoland are voting on Sunday whether or not to reconstruct a land bridge between two islands that were once joined. The expansion would bring in more tourists, advocates say.

Forgotten port bets future on wind power

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:22:00 +0200

The small German port of Cuxhaven is betting its future on North Sea wind, promoting itself as a base for new offshore wind farms as the country embarks on a bid to scrap nuclear power.

Coastal authorities practice for potential oil spills

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:46:00 +0200

As the devastating oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico continues gush, German coastal authorities prepared to deal with a similar accident with a large-scale clean-up and rescue exercise this week.

German firms to build giant British offshore wind farms

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:58:00 +0100

German companies have won contracts worth more than €100 billion to build Britain’s planned network of offshore wind farms in the North Sea.

North Sea nations planning renewable energy network

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:03:00 +0100

Germany and several other European nations are planning to create a billion-euro renewable energy network spanning the North Sea, the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday.