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Home , Eider (river), Elbe, Holtenau, Kiel, Kiel Canal, Port of Kiel

We make shipping possible.

The A major waterway of international importance 2 3

Contents

We connect seas 5 The direct route between the and the 6 Living and ... 8 working on the canal and in Schleswig- 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 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 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 , , referred to as the Kiel Canal. and , in particular, the • Its direct predecessor was the 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

E Stock- holm

E

S Estland

Leith D Göteborg

E Newcastle R Schweden E Dänemark O Esbjerg S N Kopen- Klaipeda Malmö Hull T Litauen S Kiel O Russland Brunsbüttel NOK Hamburg Gdansk England Themse Bremen Emden Stettin Polen

London Deutschland Southhampton Rotterdam Dover Niederlande Warschau 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 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 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- 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, , 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 , is an important economic factor. Around 42,000 people are employed in around 1,400 enterprises in this sector. 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. The approximately 100 km long canal is not only an important transit route for international shipping. The Kiel Canal is also a symbol of the State of Schleswig-Holstein and the pride of its inhabitants. Recreational value Kiel Canal Lürssen in Schacht-Audorf 10 Mixed cargo Petroleum and 11 Other bulk cargo Rocks and stones 5.19% derivatives 12.92% Container 3.01% 11.13% Tankers 15.51 % Passengers Coal 25.21 % 2.50% Iron 0.90% Ores 0.96% 0.63% Timber 5.13% Grain 8.52% Cellulose 2.38% Special-purpose vessels 12.21 % Grain We connect Breakbulk 3.06% 46.05% Fertilizers 5.15% Breakbulk Ro-ro ships 33.73% economic areas 2.74 % Feedstuffs 2.60% Passenger ships 1.62 % Salt 0.50% Official and military Timber vessels 26.17% 1.21 % Iron and steel 4.79% Dry cargo ships and Fishing and pleasure multi-purpose carriers vessels 40.88 % 0.62 % Chemical products Coal Other bulk cargo 11.70% 7.00% 5.99%

Types of ship on the Kiel Canal in 2016 Types of goods in 1900 Types of goods in 2016

The Kiel Canal is one of the major transport arteries in particular, but also and , have contri- Maintaining the Kiel Canal number of ships in recent years. Petroleum products of Northern . It connects and the buted to a steady growth in the volume of cargo carried Maintenance of the Kiel Canal is funded partly from pu- and chemical products account for over 60 % of the to international traffic. The Kiel Canal, to date and to an increase in the volume of shipping blic charges (transit charge). The transit charge is used total volume of cargo. It should not be forgotten that which is a federal waterway, is an attractive link bet- traffic on the Kiel Canal. As the tonnage rose, the fleet to maintain part of the canal infrastructure. around 30 % of the total traffic and just under 10 % of ween the North Sea ports in , the Netherlands structure also changed. In feeder traffic, in particular, Ships transiting the canal also have to pay service costs the total cargo is generated by the enterprises located and and the Baltic Sea ports and the adjacent the number and size of the ships has increased. Since (fees for pilots and canal steersmen) and pilotage dues. directly on the Kiel Canal. economic areas. 2014, the number of ships, cargo volumes and gross The purpose of pilotage dues is to fund the pilotage tonnages have been on the decline (see graph below), infrastructure such as shore-side and seaborne pilot Ports The opening of the in the early 1990s and although the last two are still at a relatively high level. stations and the pilot launches. The fees for pilots and The inland port and port of refuge of Brunsbüttel, the collapse of the economies of Eastern Europe initial- According to a study commissioned by the Federal canal steersmen are the income of the pilots and canal the oil port of Brunsbüttel, the port of Ostermoor, ly resulted in a sharp decline in shipping traffic. Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure on the steersmen. the district port of Rendsburg, the heavy-duty port maritime traffic forecast, there is likely to be a growing of Rendsburg, Rendsburg Port at Osterrönfeld, Kiel From the late 1990s until the 2008/2009 economic volume of cargo handled at the German seaports over Cargo and ship statistics northern port and the inland -Holtenau are crisis, there was a steady rise in the volume of shipping the period to 2030. For the Kiel Canal, this means in- located directly on the Kiel Canal. In its immediate vici- The statistics that have been kept since the Kiel Canal traffic. In 2008, over 105 million tonnes of cargo were creasing numbers of movements. Various construction nity are the Elbe port of Brunsbüttel, the port of refuge opened give an insight into the number and type of transported on the Kiel Canal. This was the highest schemes are scheduled to take place in the years ahead of Kiel-Holtenau (aka Tiessenkai) and a guest jetty for ships, the types and volume of cargo they carry, ports of annual result in the history of the canal. This figure was to ensure that the Kiel Canal remains available as a pleasure craft. origin and destination, gross tonnage and flag state. In almost equalled in 2012, when 104 million tonnes were high-capacity transport route for a long time to come. The seaport of Kiel is both a cargo handling site and a addition, evaluation of the statistics provides valuable moved. The Baltic States (Latvia, Estonia and ) place of departure for passengers travelling to Scandi- indicators of trends in economic activity and thus the navia and the Baltic States. needs of the canal‘s customers. 2 5 8 1 4 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Shipyards 200.000 The canal is most frequently used by dry cargo ships (bulk carriers and break-bulk vessels), followed by tan- There are several shipyards on the Kiel Canal, at Rends- 180.000 kers and container ships. burg and Schacht-Audorf. There is a large shipyard at the port of Kiel. Numerous shipyards are also located Cargo in t (/1000) 160.000 The volume of cargo carried on the Kiel Canal rose in the west and east of the Kiel Fjord. The shipyards Number of voyages continuously until 2008. In 1990, 61.7 million tonnes of provide jobs in the maritime environment and in turn 140.000 benefit from the vibrant transport artery that is the Kiel GT (/1000) *(GRT until 1995) cargo were transported. By 2008, this figure had risen to 105.9 million tonnes. The economic crisis resulted in Canal. 120.000 a downward trend, although the figures were still high. Thus, in 2014, the volume of cargo transported was still Shipbrokers 100.000 as much as 99 million tonnes. At the locks in Kiel and Brunsbüttel, shipbrokers are represented, who provide their customer-focused ser- 80.000 International factors such as the worldwide decline in vices around the clock. These include, for instance, the the volume of cargo handled, low bunker oil prices, a supply of provisions or spare parts and the notification 60.000 fall in shipping traffic to and from China and the econo- procedure that is necessary for a ship to pass through mic sanctions imposed by the EU on Russia in mid-2014 the canal. 40.000 have resulted in a further drop in tonnage and the

20.000

0

Trends in shipping traffic, 1952 to 2017 12

We ensure safe shipping traffic

View from the bridge of a container ship

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), Maritime traffic safety on the Kiel Canal Pilots on the Kiel Canal which the pilot who has most recently worked takes a specialized agency of the United Nations, has re- Maritime traffic safety on the Kiel Canal is the respon- Pilots are advisors to ships’ managements. In diffi- their place at the bottom of the list. Working hours quired state governments to establish traffic safety sibility of the Kiel Canal Vessel Traffic Service Centre at cult and busy pilotage waters, they contribute their depend on the volume of traffic and are thus difficult to services everywhere where the density of traffic or the Brunsbüttel. This VTS centre: extensive knowledge of the area and their experience. predict. Their income, which comes from pilot fees, is hazard level are especially high. The Federal Ministry determined by an official tariff (Pilotage Tariff Regu- • regulates and organizes traffic around the clock; They thus play a crucial part in ensuring the safety of of Transport and Digital Infrastructure and the Federal lations). Ships navigating the pilotage area are also • locks ships into and out of the canal; shipping. A person wishing to become a pilot must de- Waterways and Shipping Agency jointly operate vessel charged pilotage dues. These are used by the Federal • takes counter-terrorist measures; and monstrate that they have at least two years of professi- traffic service (VTS) centres along the entire German Government for the maintenance and operation of • checks the canal-worthiness of vessels. onal experience in a responsible navigational position coast between Germany’s borders with the Nether- maritime pilotage facilities such as pilot stations and and complete an additional course of training as a pilot lands, and Poland. These VTS centres inform, pilot launches. For these functions to be performed safety and rapidly, candidate. Once they have passed the examination, support and regulate shipping traffic on the German shipping traffic must be detected, observed and moni- the Federal Waterways and Shipping Agency in Kiel coast and on the federal waterways (maritime traffic sa- tored. This is done using state-of-the-art equipment. On commissions them as pilots. fety). The VTS centres operated by the Waterways and Canal steersmen the one hand, radar is used to detect the vessels, and on Shipping Administration are executive bodies of the the other hand, the ships automatically identify them- There are two maritime pilots’ associations on the Kiel The occupational profile of the canal steersman has and shipping police with the following responsi- selves at short, regular intervals. This involves transmit- Canal: NOK I in Brunsbüttel and NOK II/Kiel/Lübeck/ been in existence on the Kiel Canal for over 100 years. bilities: ting all available ship data, such as size, name, position, in Kiel-Holtenau, both of which are respon- In the early days of canal navigation, accidents were • traffic safety; course and speed to the Vessel Traffic Service Centre. sible up to the halfway point of the canal. The pilots a frequent occurrence. The causes were mostly to • averting threats to the safety and efficiency of change over at Rüsterbergen pilot station near Rends- be found in the hydrodynamic effects of the narrow navigation; burg. channel. Almost one in every 20 ships became wrecked, • preventing dangers and harmful environmental Traffic detection because the helmsmen and masters were not suffici- The ships navigating the canal are sometimes so large ently familiar with the physical interaction between impacts that emanate from shipping. The automatic identification system (AIS) is an impor- that no water is visible from the bridge. On such a nar- the ship and the embankment and between meeting tant basis for maritime traffic safety. row and busy channel as the Kiel Canal, with frequent ships. For this reason, the then canal authority, the Im- oncoming traffic and few opportunities for passing, it perial Canal Office, decided that only approved canal The vessel traffic service centres: This system was introduced worldwide in 2004 and is imperative that masters be provided with advice by a steersmen should be allowed to steer the ships. This put • inform shipping about traffic in the VTS areas; made mandatory for all sea-going ships of 300 GT or person with knowledge of the local area. Entering and an end to the series of accidents. The specially trained • assist the masters by providing information, more. The basis of on-board positioning is the Global exiting the locks at Brunsbüttel and Holtenau is a diffi- canal steersmen amalgamated to form the Association warnings and advice; Positioning System (GPS). cult manoeuvre that requires a competent advisor. of Canal Steersmen. Today, they are supervised by the • regulate and organize traffic; Maritime pilots do not work shifts but in a sequence in Federal Waterways and Shipping Agency in Kiel. • initiate enforcement measures The navigators at the VTS centre use the collected and processed data to plan the locking-in and locking-out of the ships at Brunsbüttel and Kiel-Holtenau. Between the locks, the flow of traffic on the Kiel Canal is orga- nized by the VTS centre in such a way that there are no dangerous encounters or unnecessary delays.

Traffic management on the Kiel Canal

Rüsterbergen pilot station Two-way traffic on the canal 14

Managing the quantities of water

Construction of the Kiel Canal resulted in a sustained Without these drainage facilities, the run-off rainwater Backwater of precipitation in the Burg Lowland at Hochdonn, photo: Helga Panknin improvement in precipitation runoff in a large part of entering the canal would disrupt shipping operations Schleswig-Holstein. The canal receives water from a and build up in the tracts of land in the catchment area. catchment area of around 1,530 km², with an area of In addition, ferry operations will be discontinued, be- The aim is to minimize disruption to shipping, fer- around 250 km² being drained with the help of pump- When balancing the interests of shipping, the require- cause interaction between a ferry and a landing stage is ry operations and drainage. In addition, long-term ing stations. ments of the ferry crossings and hydrological and not possible when there are high water levels. options for action, such as the creation of floodplains The fact that the canal is connected to a section of the meteorological conditions, the drainage for the Kiel or the construction of a new “Kiel Canal pumping stati- Eider and numerous other small – or their upper Canal must be controlled such that the water does not In recent years, there have repeatedly been situations on”, can be studied and appraised. reaches – means that their water flows via the canal exceed or fall below its maximum and minimum levels in which shipping and ferry operations have had to directly into the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Thus, the respectively. This is known as water management. be temporarily suspended. For this reason, the drain- The work is taking place with the participation of the Kiel Canal serves as a receiving body of water for ten age situation of the Kiel Canal was also included in the State of Schleswig-Holstein and the water and soil percent of the area of Schleswig-Holstein. Particular weather constellations, for instance stormy Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastruc- boards. On the basis of the current planning status, the weather and persistent heavy precipitation, can result ture’s research project on the consequences of climate work on the operational forecast is likely to be com- By means of the locks in Brunsbüttel and the drainage in inland flooding, which has to be regulated. change for the inland waterways (KLIWAS). pleted in 2018. sluice in Kiel, the water level in the canal can be kept at In 2014, this project was notified to the Federal Ministry approximately sea level. A water level that is as con- If, despite the drainage installations, it is not possible of Transport and Digital Infrastructure by the Federal These studies were conducted by the following stant as possible is important for both shipping and the to prevent the water level in the canal from rising in Waterways and Shipping Agency as a contribution to specialized agencies: stability of the embankments and structures. the event of storm surges with high water levels in the the 2008 German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate North Sea and Baltic Sea, a speed limit will be imposed • Federal Institute of Hydrology Change and the 2011 German Action Plan. It also ensures uniform bridge clearances and smooth on shipping to protect the embankments and dykes • Federal Waterways Engineering and Research cross traffic with the canal ferries. against damage by wave action. If necessary, shipping Institute must be suspended completely. • Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency Facts and figures • German Meteorological Service • The catchment area covers 1,530 km², of which 250 km² are low-lying areas that are drained into A sea level rise of around 20 cm in the past 100 years the canal via 18 pumping stations. has already noticeably reduced the drainage times • The Kiel Canal drains around 10 % of the area of available. Schleswig-Holstein. Looming climate change will result in a further rise in • After the Eider, Trave and Stör, the catchment area of sea level. the Kiel Canal is the fourth largest, and the largest man-made, in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Thus, in 2013, the Federal Institute of Hydrology star- • Inflow into the canal averages around 20 m³/s of ted to develop a canal balance model as a basis for fore- water. This is equivalent to an annual volume of 630 cast tools for “short-term and long-term simulations”. million m³ or four to five times the water content of This will involve establishing a short-term forecast tool the Kiel Canal. for simulations of the next two days and a long-term • The mean daily drainage is 2.7 hours in Kiel-Holtenau forecast tool for the period to 2100. This will make it and 2.1 hours in Brunsbüttel. possible to optimize adaptation measures, for instance • Maximum discharge in Kiel-Holtenau is only one day-to-day drainage operations, by means of anticipa- Tenth of the amount that can be discharged in tory drainage of reserves and adapted pumping station Brunsbüttel at a rate of 600 m³/s at low tide. operations. (600 m³/s is equivalent to the mean discharge of the Oder).

Drainage sluice at Projensdorf 16

Our bridges

Inserting the middle section of the high-level railway bridge at Hochdonn.

Construction of the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal severed As a result of the increase in the requirements of road More detailed information on this upgrade scheme some existing land routes. Bridges and ferry links clo- traffic, further high-level bridges have been added or can be found on the Internet at www.portalnok.de. sed the gaps that had been created. already replaced over the years. Today, ten bridges cross the Kiel Canal. The Waterways and Shipping Bridge data In addition to the high-level bridges at Grünental and Administration is responsible for four bridges: the two Levensau, four swing bridges and one pontoon swing high-level railway bridges at Hochdonn and Rendsburg bridge were constructed. The swing bridges soon pro- and the two combined rail/road bridges at Grünental Clearance of all bridges: 42 m ved to be a serious obstacle to shipping, rail and road and Levensau. traffic. As part of the first canal widening, they were Type of bridge Length Constructed almost all replaced by high-level bridges. To ensure that the approximately 100-year-old high- level railway bridges at Rendsburg and Hochdonn plus High-level road bridge Together with the high-level road bridge in Kiel-Hol- the rail/road bridge at Grünental (replaced in 1986) can Brunsbüttel B 5 2.826 m 1979/83 tenau and the high-level railway bridge in Hochdonn, be safely operated in the decades ahead, their anti-cor- the high-level bridge in Rendsburg was constructed rosion coating has to be renewed at regular intervals. High-level railway bridge between 1911 and 1913, and is today the city’s land- Wherever necessary, steel components, or even entire Hochdonn - 2.218 m 1915/20 mark. With a length of 2,486 m and a weight of 17,700 bridge components, that have become seriously rusted tonnes, this giant bridge installation for the mainline over the years are replaced. High-level motorway bridge from Hamburg via Neumünster to Flensburg was the Hohenhörn A 23 391 m 1985-89 largest and, technologically, the most spectacular steel In November 2006, a new middle section was installed structure. on the bridge at Hochdonn. High-level rail/road bridge Planning is currently underway for replacement of Grünental B 204 405 m 1983/86 In the construction of the bridge, a trick was used that the old high-level bridge at Levensau. Because of its High-level railway bridge Rendsburg high-level railway bridge had never previously been used in flat country for such design, the oldest bridge on the Kiel Canal constitutes differences in height. a bottleneck for shipping and, in connection with the Rendsburg - 2.486 m 1911/13 A self-intersecting 4.5 km long loop was constructed upgrading of the eastern section, is to be replaced by a on the then undeveloped land between the canal and new structure at the same site. High-level motorway bridge the Eider, making it possible to reconnect Rendsburg Rade A 7 1.498 m 1969/72 station, which is only about 1,000 m from the canal st bank, despite the bridge crossing the canal with a clear 1 high-level rail/road bridge height above the waterline of 42 m. Levensau K 27 180 m 1893/94 The high-level bridge at Rendsburg has become espe- nd cially noted for the suspended be- 2 high-level road bridge low the central girder. It is one of the last ten structures Levensau B 76 365 m 1980/83 of this type in the world and has been in operation since st 1913, carrying road vehicles, cyclists and passengers. 1 high-level road bridge The transporter bridge was seriously damaged in a Holtenau B 503 518 m 1992/95 collision with a ship and was completely dismantled in nd 2016. 2 high-level road bridge Holtenau B 503 518 m 1969/72

Ship passing under the high-level bridges at Levensau. 18 19

Our ferries and tunnels

Ferries the deck hand at ferry crossing. This makes Ferry and tunnel data 14 ferries cross the Kiel Canal. In all places where roads safe ferry operations less expensive. The transporter or municipalities were partly severed as a result of the bridge below the high-level railway bridge at Rends- Ferry- Ferry- Heaviest- construction of the Kiel Canal, these ferries link the two burg, which is six metres above the water level, offers crossing operating hours single vehicle banks. Vehicles and passengers can use the ferries free what is arguably the most unusual crossing of the Brunsbüttel 0:00 – 24:00 hrs 38 t of charge. canal. It is electrically powered and carries pedestri- 2nd ferry: ans, cyclists and up to four vehicles not exceeding 3.5 Apr. - Oct. 5:00 – 23:00 hrs Because of the high volume of traffic, two ferries are in tonnes in weight. The person operating the transporter Nov. - Mar. 5:00 – 22:00 hrs operation at Brunsbüttel and Nobiskrug near Rends- bridge does not require a certificate but must have Ostermoor 0:00 – 24:00 hrs 38 t burg. A passenger ferry shuttles between the Kiel knowledge of radar and VHF marine radio. Kudensee 0:00 – 24:00 hrs 38 t districts of Holtenau and Wik. The transporter bridge was seriously damaged in a Burg 0:00 – 24:00 hrs 38 t collision with a ship and was completely dismantled in Hochdonn 0:00 – 24:00 hrs 38 t 2016. Since it is no longer possible to repair it, prepa- Hohenhörn 0:00 – 24:00 hrs 38 t rations are currently underway for the construction of Fischerhütte 6:00 – 22:00 hrs 38 t a new transporter bridge. The new transporter bridge Oldenbüttel 0:00 – 24:00 hrs 38 t will be designed such that it resembles the historical Breiholz 0:00 – 24:00 hrs 38 t model. Operations are not likely to recommence before Rendsburg transporter bridge 3,5 t 2019. - Currently not in operation - Nobiskrug 0:00 – 24:00 hrs 38 t Tunnels 2nd ferry: Two tunnels cross below the Kiel Canal at Rendsburg. Mon. – Sat. 6:00 – 20:00 hrs Motorized road users pass through the tunnel that Sun. and forms part of the B 77 federal highway. This tunnel holidays 13:00 – 20:00 hrs comprises two 640 m long bores, each with two lanes. 0:00 – 24:00 hrs 38 t Frost and de-icing salt have damaged the 50-year-old Landwehr 0:00 – 24:00 hrs 38 t structure so badly that it is in need of restoration to Holtenau-Wik Passengers only strengthen it for the decades ahead. Alongside the Mon. – Fri. 6:30 – 22:00 hrs installation of a cathodic corrosion protection system Sat. – Sun. and Ostermoor ferry service for the concrete, the outdated technical installations holidays 9:30 – 22:00 hrs The ferries on the Kiel Canal are inland waterway and fire safety equipment will be brought up to the Rendsburg road tunnel vessels that have a standard deadweight capacity of 45 state of the art. Because the tunnel is of outstanding • Total length 1,278 m tonnes and carry up to eight cars. Two -Schneider importance not only for the city and region of Rends- • Enclosed tunnel section 640 m propellers make them highly manoeuvrable. The pay- burg but also for the entire road network in central • Two bores, each with two lanes and a width of 6.80 m load of the ferries operating regularly at Brunsbüttel Schleswig-Holstein, the road will have to remain open • Lowest point: Upper edge of tunnel 14.55 m below is 100 tonnes. They can carry over 20 passenger cars at to traffic while the works are being carried out. standard elevation zero the same time. • Upper edge of carriageway 20.15 m below standard The skippers of the ferries must be in possession of a In the Rendsburg pedestrian tunnel, a total of four 55 elevation zero certificate of competency for navigation. A deck hand metre long escalators lead down to the 130 metre long Rendsburg pedestrian tunnel assists them in loading and unloading the vehicle ferry. circular tunnel bore. Models at the new control centre • One bore with a length of 130 m Thanks to the deployment of modern technology, it is on the Rendsburg side of the tunnel provide informati- • Inner diameter 4.5 m possible, if certain conditions are met, to dispense with on about the two tunnel structures. • In the canal axis: upper edge of tunnel 17.88 m below standard elevation zero Sehestedt ferry crossing • Upper edge of footway 21.47 m below standard Rendsburg pedestrian tunnel elevation zero 20

We are investing in the future

Siding dolphins

Since 1998, shipping traffic on the Kiel Canal has risen to the requirements of shipping and to the constantly The flight of locks at Kiel-Holtenau is also in need of Dredging operations in the area around the locks at by more than 25 percent. At the same time, the volume growing sizes of ships, for instance by regular mainte- major repair/refurbishment. The first step will involve Brunsbüttel remove shoals. The sediment input from of cargo carried has doubled. In 2014, over 32,000 ships nance and modernization work. replacing the two Small Lock chambers. the Elbe is returned to the Elbe. carried over 99 million tonnes of cargo through the canal. One third of all ships are dependent on the large The Large Locks at Brunsbüttel will be restored to make Larger and larger ships and the infestation of the cur- Shoals have to be removed by dredging at intervals of locks and carry around two thirds of all cargo. them fit for the requirements of the decades ahead. rent wooden dolphins by the naval shipworm teredo several years over the entire length of the canal. The Since this cannot be done without closing them to navalis make it necessary to replace the jetty and material excavated here is relocated to especially deep To ensure the safety and efficiency of navigation on the shipping, a new large lock chamber will be constructed siding dolphins by steel dolphins. The 16-pile wooden areas within the canal. Kiel Canal, maintenance of the canal and its installa- beforehand as a kind of bypass. dolphins will gradually be replaced by single-tube steel tions is absolutely essential. Any failure of a lock cham- dolphins. ber can mean considerable delays for shipping. Until this fifth lock chamber is opened to traffic in the second half of 2020, the existing lock chambers will be Knowledge of the water depth is of vital importance for The locks at Brunsbüttel and Kiel-Holtenau, which kept open and continue to provide a reliable service. the safety of shipping. For this reason, the “Orka” soun- were constructed in 1895 and 1914, have to be adapted ding vessel regular surveys the bottom and underwater slopes of the Kiel Canal.

Shipping in the lock at Brunsbüttel The “Okra” sounding vessel 22 23

Construction and repair

The locks at Brunsbüttel The plan approval will create the legal framework for the construction site of the century on the canal. At the western end of the Kiel Canal in Brunsbüttel, four lock chambers are available to shipping. The usable length for shipping of the fifth lock cham- After over a century of use, the solid hydraulic steel Replacing the rails in the large chambers at Kiel-Holtenau ber will be 330 m – around 20 m longer than that of the structure is in need of restoration. Large Lock chambers. Its usable width will be 42 m – the To preserve traffic and operational safety, the mecha- same as the existing Large Lock. Restoration of the Lar- nical and electrical systems of the Large Lock have to be ge Lock will also involve renewing the sliding gates so The locks at Kiel-Holtenau Construction of new service culverts at the locks in restored. that in the future, the sliding gates, which are designed The Large and Small Locks at Holtenau are exhibiting Brunsbüttel and Kiel-Holtenau as robust steel structures, can be exchanged between damage caused by use and age, which necessitates Culverts run below the lock installations at Brunsbüttel Extensive scoping studies have shown that the the chambers. The contracts for construction of the extensive repair and modernization. Planning has com- and Kiel-Holtenau. These underground cable ducts are construction of a fifth lock chamber and the subse- new, fifth lock chamber were awarded in 2014. menced. used to house the necessary data and utility lines for quent restoration of the two Large Lock chambers servicing the lock installations. makes sense from a value-for-money and engineering Before work starts, a new culvert crossing under the point of view and will generate the greatest benefit Gate repair dock entire lock installation will be built. A new replacement The existing culverts in the lock heads have been in to the national economy, especially because it will be sliding gate for the Large Locks is also planned. This operation for over 100 years. They have reached the necessary to close one chamber for several years during A gate repair dock will be constructed in Brunsbüttel will be less sensitive to ships running foul of it and will end of their life and no longer satisfy the latest safety the restoration work. for the maintenance and repair of the eight lock gates (plus four spare gates) of the Kiel Canal. The lock gates enhance the availability of the locks. standards. Before work starts on repairing the locks, provision has been made for constructing a new culvert The impact of the construction works on nature and have to be maintained regularly and given a comple- The fabric of the Small Lock at Kiel-Holtenau, dating under both lock installations. the environment has been closely studied. As part of a te overhaul every 18 years, which takes around ten from 1895, is heavily damaged. Numerous cracks at plan approval procedure with public participation, all months per gate. In addition, the gates are inspected various places in the supporting masonry of the Small The culverts are both over 400 m long and run at a interests were weighed up against one another. every six years. Lock made it impossible to take remedial action to put depth of more than 30 m. Construction of the culvert the lock back into operation, either in whole or in part, at Brunsbüttel has been completed, and the culvert at by the beginning of the refurbishment work. The Small Kiel-Holtenau is very close to completion. Lock had to be permanently closed.

To secure the Small Lock, it will be filled in. The two chambers will then be replaced on the basis of a se- cured building site. First, the small chambers are to be replaced and the approaches adapted. This is to be followed by refurbish- ment of the large chambers.

When a large chamber is being refurbished, shipping will normally have three other chambers at its disposal, which will make it possible to avoid serious disruption. A plan approval procedure will be carried out for the construction of new replacement Small Locks and the Here arises the adaptation of the approaches at Kiel-Holtenau. 5th lock chamber

Locks at Brunsbüttel 24

Adaptation and deepening Committed to the environment

Common noctule, photo: Florian Gloza-Rausch

Adaptation of the eastern section Replacement of the high-level bridge at Levensau The Kiel Canal is a man-made navigable waterway con- The abutments of the old high-level bridge at Levensau The approximately 20 km long, non-upgraded eastern The plan approval procedure for replacement of the necting the Baltic Sea to the point where the Elbe flows constitute a winter roosting site that is of Europe-wide section of the Kiel Canal will represent a pinch point high-level bridge at Levensau was launched in 2015. into the North Sea. Although the Kiel Canal is a civil importance and thus has to be protected accordingly, for the shipping of the future. The section between the Ever larger ships, the low width at the waterline and engineering structure, it constitutes an important ele- because they provide ideal hibernation opportunities locks at Königsförde and Kiel-Holtenau inland port, in the fact that the horizontal clearance below the old ment in the ecosystem. Thanks to its biotope structures, for the bats. particular, has become a bottleneck. For this reason, high-level bridge cannot be used over its entire width which have evolved over decades, it offers a wide range bend easements and widening work are planned there. impose constraints on shipping traffic and are increa- of different habitats for native fauna and flora. Along the Kiel Canal, there is also a series of spoil fields Adaptation of the eastern section will allow today’s singly resulting in delays. onto which the dredged material has been, or still largest ships (length = 253 m, width = 32.5 m, depth The bridge is over 120 years old, which makes it the Over 75 species of fish have been identified in the Kiel is, pumped and deposited. Valuable biotopes have = 7.0 m) to have higher laden draughts. By providing oldest canal bridge, and has almost reached the end Canal. The most well-known are herrings, eels, pike- developed in those places. Some of the old spoil fields more passing points, transit times will be reduced. The of its useful life. For this reason, the bridge will be perch, roach, bream, carp and flounder. Alongside the have even been designated as protected areas. The higher laden draughts will result in significant impro- replaced by a new one. In this way, space will also be suspended solids and oxygen content, the salinity is a characteristic feature of the spoil field complexes is vements in cargo transport costs and times and will created for the necessary canal widening. The arches key parameter for the resident fish communities. The a small-scale diversity of specific habitats such as dry benefit mainly the German seaports with their great of the new bridge design (two-hinged arch bridge) Kiel Canal also constitutes an important channel for grassland, fenland, forest and shrubland biotopes and share of Baltic Sea trade. The submission of the request echo the typical features of the old high-level bridge at migratory fish species such as maraena whitefish, sea small bodies of water. for plan approval of the first section in 2009 launched Levensau. trout and river and sea lampreys. the public approval procedure. Plan approval was One example that deserves men- granted on 4 December 2013, thus giving the construc- In addition to the canal bottom and the body of water, tion is the incidence of orchids at tion go-ahead for the scheme. Initial preparatory work More detailed information on these upgrade schemes the embankments, in particular the stones used to pro- the now disused Reichswald spoil has been carried out in the area around Flemhude. can be found on the Internet at www.portalnok.de. tect them, also have a special importance as a habitat. field near Rendsburg with five dif- This hard man-made substrate with its system of gaps ferent species of the orchis genus. is densely populated, for instance by invertebrates such as mysids and polychaetes, which in turn form the Whenever we carry out upgrade Anpassung der Oststrecke staple diet of the fish. schemes or routine maintenance work, we take the aspects of On both banks of the canal, a continuous 100 km long nature conservation and water re- Anpassung der Oststrecke belt has evolved comprising a diverse range of semi- source management into account. natural and natural habitats such as grasslands, woody strips, tuffaceous limestone sources or drylands, so that Thus, for instance, when we prune the Kiel Canal is part of the integrated system of pro- back the copses as part of our tected areas and biotopes in Schleswig-Holstein. maintenance activities, we take care to avoid the breeding seasons The areas of the canal embankments that are expo- of birds. In the individual plan ap- sed to the sun and richly structured are especially proval procedures for the upgrade important for reptiles, among other things. Thus, for schemes, the ecological encroach- instance, there is an incidence of common vipers that ments have to be identified and Indigenous orchid/orchis, is significant on a state-wide basis. In the immediate appropriately compensated for. photo: Helga Panknin vicinity of the canal, there are also important foraging Prior to every procedure, there is close cooperation habitats for bats, which are among the species pro- with the respective specialist environmental autho- tected by European law, such as the common noctule rities to identify and take into account regional and and the common pipistrelle. European species protection.

Shipping at Neuwittenbek 26 27

Focus on tourism

Sehestedt

Waterways unite nature and culture and offer count- We are committed to the harmonious co-existence less opportunities for leisure and adventure. Each year, of culture and nature. At both ends of the canal, in the Kiel Canal attracts thousands of tourists. Side-by- Kiel-Holtenau and Brunsbüttel, people can watch ships side with container ships, pleasure craft and luxury being locked in and out. In Brunsbüttel, they can visit liners, well developed towpaths along the Kiel Canal the maritime exhibition near the locks. provide an ideal space for hikers, joggers and cyclists. We make it possible for numerous festivals and events Free ferries make it possible to cross the canal. The to be held on and around the Kiel Canal. One of the Kiel Canal is also an attractive location for anglers and most prestigious boat races in the world, the E.ON water sports enthusiasts. Hanse Cup, is held on the Kiel Canal. Each autumn, the Around 12,000 operators of pleasure craft use this canal is illuminated by the “NOK Romantika” festival of federal waterway each year. As the Waterways and lights. Shipping Administration, we see ourselves as a service provider and point of contact for people who wish to Tourism: Schleswig-Holstein facts and figures experience the waterway. We provide tips for naviga- ting waterways, issue boatmasters‘ licences and ensure • Around 150 cruise ships per annum in Kiel Docks that professional and recreational shipping coexist • Around 170,000 persons employed in the tourism safely. sector Our structures can be experienced. Evidence of mari- • Around 32,000 privately run accommodation time life can be found all around the canal – the histori- establishments cal lock installations in Kiel-Holtenau and Brunsbüttel, • Around 4,500 commercial enterprises high-level bridges such as the high-level railway bridge • Around 9,500 catering businesses and the transporter bridge in Rendsburg (currently not • Around €7.7 billion turnover in the tourism industry in operation) and much more besides. Federal Waterways and Shipping Agency

Ulrich-von-Hassell-Str. 76 53123 [email protected] www.gdws.wsv.de

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As at: January 2018

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