Concerns mount in the maritime sector over decreasing passenger traffic along Norway's coastal route
Halfway through 2023, a dramatic drop in Kiel Canal ship traffic was observed. Industry reps attribute this to a string of equipment failures caussing substantial delays.
The Kiel Canal is a lifeline for Germany and Europe’s maritime economy. As the shortest route between the North and Baltic Seas, it offers fast, affordable, and eco-friendly shipping routes vital for trade and industry. Any lock delays hurt not only locals but also international businesses.
The "Kiel-Canal Initiative" (IKC) and the "Nautical Association of Kiel" (NVzK) have repeatedly highlighted the canal's operation and maintenance shortcomings. Jens-Broder Knudsen, IKC’s chair, says, "We're losing ships and attractiveness due to this essential trade route."
Since July 1, safety and schedule predictability for international shipping have worsened, resulting in smaller ships and less traffic. Since then, vessels must reduce speed by 20% to 12 km/h to prevent further canal bed damage. This extended passage duration increases demand for pilots and canal pilots, straining resources. For the first time ever, pilots have faced waiting times before Brunsbüttel due to rest requirements.
NVzK’s chair, Ingo Berger, notes regular lock delays due to the water and shipping administration's personnel shortages. "This has led to individual locking and a reduction in canal capacity and attractiveness." Both groups worry that problems are escalating, with incidents never seen before in the canal's history.
One instance involved the canal's complete closure due to a snow clearance service failure, casting doubts on the hiring process. Even essential lighthouse lighting for guiding large ships has been irregularly maintained. After October's Baltic storm surge, the Kiel lighthouse suffered damage, and the nearby pilot transfer station had to be abandoned, increasing user costs and reducing appeal.
Concerned about the canal’s future, both groups wrote to the federal government. They urge the following actions:
- Assign specialized talent (nautical experts, technicians, and engineers) to the Waterways and Shipping Office NOK to streamline lock operations and other measures.
- Expedite the completion of ongoing canal improvements at NOK.
- Cease indiscriminate job cuts at the WSV.
- Improve the WSV working environment.
- Renovate the Kiel Lighthouse.
For Knudsen and Berger, “Given the shift toward eco-friendly transport and added shipping fuel costs, the canal’s energy-saving role is critical for traffic safety and must maintain its place within the trans-European network!”
Kiel-Canal Initiative e.V.
Established at the end of 2012, Kiel-Canal Initiative e.V. brings together concerned voices for the North-East Sea Canal, advocating for its maintenance and future viability. Its members include businesses, chambers of commerce, public corporations, institutions, associations, clubs, and local authorities.
Contact for further information:
Jens B. Knudsen, IKC Chair – Office: 0431/9810
Ingo Berger, NVzK Chair – Mobile: 0176/61482057
(It's worth noting that the primary reason for the delays appears to be ongoing construction work on the Rader Viaduct, a key motorway bridge spanning the canal nearing the end of its operational life. Renovation was deemed economically unviable, prompting the construction of a new bridge east of the old one. Construction activities include the assembly and launch of the steel superstructure, canal pier work, and traffic management measures affecting both road and waterway traffic. Strategies to address these issues include completing the new bridge by 2026, building a second bridge by 2031, employing advanced traffic management technology, enhancing digital logistics platforms for streamlined operations, and integrating real-time tracking and vessel scheduling systems.)
- The Kiel Canal, a vital link for Germany and Europe's maritime economy, has experienced a drop in ship traffic due to equipment failures and subsequent delays in mid-2023.
- Due to the delays, the canal's energy-saving role, critical for eco-friendly transport and reduced shipping fuel costs, is at risk, thereby impacting the trans-European network.
- Concerned entities, including the Kiel-Canal Initiative and the Nautical Association of Kiel, have called upon the federal government to address issues such as assigning specialized talent to the Waterways and Shipping Office NOK, completing ongoing canal improvements, and improving the working environment at the WSV, among others.
- In addition to these concerns, ongoing construction work on the Rader Viaduct has also contributed to delays, with strategies being implemented to complete the new bridge by 2026 and build a second bridge by 2031, along with enhancing digital logistics platforms and integrating real-time tracking and vessel scheduling systems.
