Normally, pleasure craft pass through the small lock chambers in Brunsbüttel, sometimes together with smaller commercial vessels. This coming weekend, however, the Small North and South Locks will be cancelled during the day: On Friday, 29 May from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Saturday, 30 May from 07:00 to 18:00, crane work will take place from a pontoon in the old outer harbour. All traffic must then pass through the two large locks.
Less capacity, more joint locks
There are four lock chambers available in Brunsbüttel: The two small locks (125 m x 22 m) dating from 1895 and the two large locks (310 m x 42 m) dating from 1914. This capacity enables the Waterways and Shipping Authority to organise traffic in such a way that pleasure craft and commercial vessels can pass through the locks as separately as possible. However, due to the structural bottlenecks on the Kiel Canal, it is becoming increasingly common for pleasure craft to have to lock together with freighters - even in the small locks.
During the weekend closure, the smaller half of the lock capacity will be cancelled. All traffic - pleasure craft, tankers, freighters, container ships - must be channelled through the two large locks.
If you want to avoid locking in the screw water of the really big boats, you should sail through the small locks before or after the closure. The route should be adapted accordingly, especially when coming from the Elbe, as the tide-dependent Old Harbour is available as a waiting option at best. The canal-side inland harbour of Brunsbüttel, on the other hand, can be called at around the clock. In Brunsbüttel, pleasure craft are also channelled at night.
Screw water: The invisible danger
Just how dangerous joint locks for commercial shipping and pleasure craft can be was demonstrated dramatically on 24 May 2025 in the Alte Südschleuse Brunsbüttel, when a sailing yacht from the Eichler Yacht School collided with a 100-metre-long tanker in the Kleine Schleuse. The tanker had moored to the lock wall with its bow and held its position by travelling slightly ahead, the yacht got into the screw water.
Due to their design, many freighters cannot switch off the screw water in the lock. They have to keep their engines running to maintain their position. In addition, most freighters have some rudder, so that the freighter is moved towards the lock wall. This creates a considerable cross current at the level of the propeller.
The problem is that this turbulence is often barely visible on the surface of the water. Only when you look closely and know what to look out for do you recognise the danger. The risk is difficult to assess for inexperienced crews. The cross current must not be passed too slowly, but with sufficient speed in the ship. This is the only way that equalising movements at the rudder can have a quick effect.
The most important thing: keep a safe distance from large ships. "Our most important request to skippers: keep your distance from large ships! This is always neglected", emphasises the WSA in a flyer for recreational boaters. Pleasure craft should also keep as much distance as possible from commercial vessels when entering the lock chamber. In reality, however, there are often only a few metres. If in doubt, a call on VHF channel 13 with the call "Kiel Canal I" can clarify the situation.
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Ursula Meer
Redakteurin Panorama und Reise
