The Greifswald barrage is located in the water cross-section of the Ryck federal waterway at the mouth of the "Dänische Wiek" in the Greifswald-Wieck district. It forms an integral part of the flood protection system for the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald.
The Ryck, which is around four meters deep, has a width of approximately 60 meters and serves as access to the city harbour of Greifswald. The main purpose of the largest technical coastal protection structure on the German Baltic Sea coast is to protect against flooding during storm floods, taking into account the preservation of the brackish water-dependent biotopes in the Ryck lowlands. A structure has been developed that optimizes safety, functionality, urban perception and costs.