Technical Data

Kiel Canal (in German language referred to as Nord-Ostsee-Kanal, until 1948 is was also known as Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal) links the North Sea (estuary of the river Elbe) to the Baltic Sea (Kiel Fjord). It is owned, administrated and operated by the Federal Republic of Germany and available to shipping as an international waterway.

With a length of nearly 100 kilometres, Kiel Canal crosses the Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein between Brunsbuettel and Kiel-Holtenau. A transit results in an average distance saving of 900 kilometres compared to the passage through Skagerrak.

 

Dimension of the Kiel Canal

Length 98.26 km
Width on waterline 162 m (teilweise noch 102,5 m)
Width at bottom 90 m (teilweise noch 44m)
Water depth 11 m
Free height between waterline and bridges

 

Locks

‘Small locks’ at Brunsbüttel and Kiel

  • Commissioning: 1895
  • Usable length: 125 m
  • Usable width: 22 m
  • Lock cill depth: in Brunsbüttel NN -10,2 m, in Kiel-Holtenau NN -9,8 m
  • Lock gates: Mitred lock gate, 2 ebb tide and 2 flood tide doors per chamber
  • Filling: through 2 side canals, each with 12 branch canals
  • Lock transit time: 30 minutes

‘Big locks’ at Brunsbüttel and Kiel

  • Commissioning: 1914
  • Usable length: 310 m
  • Usable width: 42 m
  • Lock cill depth: NN -14,0 m
  • Lock gates: each lock 3 sliding gates; the mid-lock gate (at the same time reserve gate) is shorter than the other gates thus allowing a faster lockage
  • Filling: in Brunsbuettel through revolving lock gates, in Holtenau through 2 side canals with 29 branch canals
  • Lock transit time: 45 minutes

New Brunsbüttel lock chamber under planning

  • Commissioning: 2017 (planned)
  • Usable length: 330 m (planned)
  • Usable width:  42 m (planned)
  • Lock cill depth: NN –14,0 m (planned)
  • Lock gates:  Sliding gates
  • Filling: Still subject to final planning
  • Lock transit time: Still subject to final planning

Text compiled using material from Wikipedia.