Since 2024, the German town of Prerow has been home to the longest pier on the Baltic Sea. It is 720 metres long and leads to the island’s distinctive harbour. The structure has dethroned the pier in Heringsdorf on the island of Usedom, which is 508 metres long.
720 m – the longest pier on the Baltic Sea
The new pier is situated in the resort of Prerow, on the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula. It is exactly 4.2 metres wide and 720 metres long, of which around 620 metres extend directly over the waters of the Baltic Sea. This allows walkers to venture far out to sea and view the coast from a completely different perspective – almost as if from a boat or ship. The Prerow Seebrücke is now the longest structure of its kind on the Baltic Sea. By way of comparison, our Sopot pier is 511.5 metres long.
Over two years of construction in Prerow
Before this record-breaking pier was built, there was another pier in Prerow. The previous structure was erected in 1993, was approximately 390 metres long, and served as a promenade and a shelter for small vessels. However, problems with silting up of the nearby fairway led to the decision to build a new harbour and a significantly longer pier. The project began in 2022 and was part of a larger scheme carried out by the ARGE Inselhafen consortium, led by Ed. Züblin AG. The structure was supported by 87 steel piles, whilst the pier itself was constructed from prefabricated reinforced concrete elements. The construction of the new harbour required, amongst other things, 1,300 tonnes of steel and approximately 2,200 cubic metres of reinforced concrete. The pier itself cost around 10.5 million euros, whilst the total value of the entire project amounted to approximately 44.4 million euros.
The longest pier on the Baltic Sea leads to the harbour
The jetty in Prerow is not just a tourist attraction. At its end, the Inselhafen Prerow – an island harbour covering an area of around 10,000 square metres – has been built. It features berths for sports and fishing boats, a berth for a passenger vessel and a berth for a rescue vessel. The harbour therefore serves a specific practical purpose, whilst the pier itself acts as its link to the mainland. The new facility has taken over the role of the former Darßer Ort harbour, which was situated within the national park. Following the completion of the project, Darßer Ort was closed and set aside for renaturation.
A simple form, a challenging structure
The pier has a relatively simple form, but its construction was a major engineering undertaking. The structure is situated approximately 4.5 metres above the water’s surface, which ensures sufficient clearance even under changing conditions on the Baltic Sea. The width of the structure, in turn, allows (in exceptional circumstances) for service and emergency vehicles to pass across, with traffic regulated by traffic lights. The design also had to take into account the specific characteristics of the coastal environment and harsh weather conditions.
€46 million for a new access point to the sea
The pier and harbour were officially opened on 16 October 2024, following more than two years of work. A building with a viewing terrace was erected at the head of the pier, offering a beautiful panoramic view of the Baltic Sea and the coastline.
Source: visit-mv.com, ostseebad-prerow.de, zueblin.de
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