Gelting Bay

The bay extends from Habernis in the northwest via Wackerballig to the south to the nature reserve of Geltinger Birk in the east.

Since the ferry distance was 28 nautical miles and led outside the then territorial waters, the shipping company assumed a business model which, in addition to the ferry service and the management of fast restaurants and cafeterias, had a substantial sale of goods at tax-free prices.

These so-called "butter cruises" (Butterfahrten) contributed to a tourist boom around Gelting Bay.

Some tankers like the Wilhelmine Essberger were even laid up at the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft shipyard in Kiel immediately after being launched.

During the oil crisis, these laid-up ships became a tourist attraction, which brought additional income to the restaurants and hotels of the region.