The Kiel Canal a Major Waterway of International Importance 2 3
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We make shipping possible. The Kiel Canal A major waterway of international importance 2 3 Contents We connect seas 5 The direct route between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea 6 Living and ... 8 working on the canal and in Schleswig-Holstein 9 We connect economic areas 10 We ensure safe shipping traffic 12 Managing the quantities of water 14 Our bridges 16 Our ferries and tunnels 18 We are investing in the future 20 Construction and repair 22 Adaptation and deepening 24 Committed to the environment 25 Focus on tourism 26 4 5 We connect seas The Kiel Canal is the world’s busiest man-made water- way navigable by seagoing ships. Canal data It is used by a similar number of ships as on the Panama • Length: 98.6 km and Suez Canals together. • In 1895, the present-day Kiel Canal was officially opened by Emperor William II as the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal. The The canal links the North Sea to the Baltic Sea and pro- name was changed in 1948 to Nord-Ostsee-Kanal (North vides a direct link for the North Sea ports to the Baltic Sea to Baltic Sea Canal). Internationally, it is usually Sea region. For the seaports of Hamburg, Bremen, referred to as the Kiel Canal. Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven, in particular, the • Its direct predecessor was the Eider Canal, which opened Kiel Canal is an indispensable transit route enabling in 1784 them to operate efficiently. The time and distance ad- • First widened between 1907 and 1914 vantages (a saving of 460 km) offered by the Kiel Canal • Widened again between 1965 and 2002 provide shipping with a competitive edge. • 10 bridges • 2 tunnels As the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administrati- • 14 ferries on, we ensure the continuous maintenance of the Kiel • 12 sidings Canal and provide a safe and reliable transport route • Saves ships a circuitous route of around 460 km on a long-term basis. (around 250 nautical miles) • Is the largest man-made receiving body of water in To ensure that the Kiel Canal continues to be a high-ca- Schleswig-Holstein pacity waterway for international shipping, extensive • The Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration capital investment projects are being undertaken on is responsible for the Kiel Canal. the canal. Norwegen Dal Finnland Oslo Helsinki E Stock- holm E Tallinn S Estland Leith D Göteborg E Newcastle R Schweden E Riga Dänemark O Esbjerg S N Kopen- Klaipeda hagen Malmö Hull T Litauen S Kiel O Russland Brunsbüttel Vilnius NOK Hamburg Rostock Gdansk England Themse Bremen Emden Elbe Stettin Polen London Amsterdam Deutschland Oder Southhampton Rotterdam Vistula Dover Niederlande Berlin Warschau Weser Antwerpen Belgien Rhein Bruxelles 6 The direct route between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea Locks Brunsbüttel Course Canal bed Locks Distance and time benefits The Kiel Canal links the Elbe at Brunsbüttel to the Kiel The Kiel Canal is fed by numerous natural affluents. Locks are structures that enable ships to move between Depending on the ports of origin and destination, navi- Fjord. In a series of bends and straights, it crosses marsh- The locks perform an important function in regulating different water levels. Since every locking operation gating the Kiel Canal has significant distance benefits land in the West that is up to three metres lower and the water level of the canal. They ensure that shipping means valuable navigation time for shipping, there averaging 250 nautical miles (460 km). Depending on then cuts through the Geest Ridge, which is up to 25 m always has sufficient and guaranteed water depth and were originally plans to construct the Kaiser Wilhelm the speed of the ship, it is possible, through skilful route high. Subsequently, the canal follows the Eider lowland bridge clearance. Canal without locks. selection, to avoid losing a lot of time and to save fuel. and then reaches the hill country of Holstein. After At speeds of 12 km/h or 15 km/h, a passage of the canal around 100 km, it arrives at its final point at Kiel-Holte- In the course of its over 100-year history, the Kiel Canal However, tidal water level variations (especially the takes between six-and-a-half and eight hours. nau on the Kiel Fjord. has been widened three times (see figure entitled North Sea and the Elbe) and wind-induced water level Between Brunsbüttel and Königsförde (at around canal “Cross sections”). Starting from a flat bottom, the canal variations would have meant that the flow velocities If, for instance, a ship sails from Dover to Kiel, it saves km 80), the canal exhibits mainly curve radii of over embankments were designed as slightly inclined in the canal were too high. For this reasons, locks were 368 nautical miles (682 km) and around 18 hours 3,000 m and a width at the waterline of 162 m. However, wherever possible. constructed at the beginning and end of the Kiel Canal. compared with a voyage via Skagen. A voyage from the remaining section up to the Kiel Fjord has not been When the Kiel Canal was opened in 1895, two lock Hamburg to Stockholm or Riga using the Kiel Canal is widened since 1914. This approximately 20 km section Because of the heavy forces exerted on the banks by the chambers at Brunsbüttel and two at Kiel-Holtenau 336 nautical miles (622 km) shorter and takes 16 hours is characterized by sharp bends and a significantly wash of the waves, the lowering of the water level and were used. Today, these are referred to as the Small less. And a ship sailing from Rotterdam to Klaipeda via lower waterline width of 102 m. To make it possible for the wake from passing ships, it is absolutely essential Locks. As early as 1914, two additional, larger lock the Kiel Canal can save 183 nautical miles (334 km) and a large ship to transit the canal and pass ships sailing in that the banks be paved. chambers were added at both locations. Today, these two hours. the opposite direction, passing places, aka sidings, have are referred to as the Large Locks. been constructed. In the sidings, the canal is significant- Lock data ly wider than the rest of the waterway, which means Lateral and branch canals at the Small Locks and at the that ships can wait there for ships approaching from the Large Lock in Holtenau reduce currents and turbulence Small Locks, each with two chambers, at Brunsbüttel opposite direction and slow ships or towed convoys can in the lock chamber when the water level is being and Kiel-Holtenau be overtaken. changed. • Construction period: 1887-1895 It is currently necessary, for safety reasons, to replace • Usable length: 125 m the Small Lock chambers at Kiel-Holtenau. They are • Usable width: 22 m thus closed to shipping until further notice. Urquerschnitt und Erweiterungen • Depth on sill: - 10.20 m (standard elevation zero) – Brunsbüttel 1895 413 m2 66,7 m NHN -0,20 m • Depth on sill: - 9.80 m (standard elevation zero) 1:1,5 1:2 9,0 m 1:3 – Holtenau 22,0 m 1914 828 m2 102,5 m Large Locks, each with two chambers, at Brunsbüttel and NHN -0,20 m Kiel-Holtenau 1:2,25 11,0 m 1:3 44,0 m • Construction period: 1911-1914 1966 1353 m2 • Usable length: 310 m 162,0 m • Usable width: 42 m NHN -0,20 m • Depth on sill: - 14.00 m (standard elevation zero) 11,0 m Switch 1:3 – Brunsbüttel 90,0 m • Depth on sill: - 14.00 m (standard elevation zero) Cross sections – Holtenau MThw = Mean high water level NHN = Standard elevation zero MW = Mean water level 8 9 Living and ... working on the canal and in Schleswig-Holstein The Kiel Canal safeguards over 3,000 jobs in the region. These include not only the over 300 pilots and around 150 canal steersmen, but also shipbrokers, moorers, ferry crews, shipyards, craft enterprises, ship chandlers, tourism agencies, and restaurant and hotel operators. In the rural regions, it is principally tourism that contri- butes to the development of the regional economy and thus to jobs. Around 700 employees of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration not only ensure smooth operations for commercial shipping on the Kiel Canal. They also provide help and advice to yachtsmen and motor boat operators. In Schleswig-Holstein, the maritime industry, with an annual turnover of 9.2 billion euros, is an important economic factor. Around 42,000 people are employed in around 1,400 enterprises in this sector. Rendsburg district port Several shipyards, scores of small boatyards and Shipping on the Kiel Canal numerous component suppliers underscore the im- The Kiel Canal is an amenity area for the residents of portance of this production sector. Schleswig-Holstein and a major tourist attraction. Be- cause of their quiet and scenic location, the residential There are over 30 ports in the state, which handle over areas around the Kiel Canal are very popular. 51 million gross tonnes of cargo and more than 15 million passengers each year. There is a wide range of sporting and leisure facilities along the Kiel Canal. The banks of the canal are ideal Schleswig-Holstein provides home ports for around places for resting, hiking and cycling. 30,000 pleasure craft and a sizeable cutter fleet. Thousand of residents of Schleswig-Holstein, guests and amateur photographers follow the passages of the cruise ships. Others watch the large container ships sail by. Numerous events and a multiplicity of activities on and around the canal give it a high level of public amenity value.