Construction of the canal is advancing steadily
The Kiel Canal, a vital waterway connecting the North and Baltic Seas, is undergoing an expansion project, with construction on the first phase set to commence this winter. However, the project is not without its challenges.
Staff shortages have been a persistent issue at the canal, leading to breakdowns and delays. The Initiative Kiel Canal, an organization advocating for the canal's interests, has expressed criticism regarding the situation. Jens B. Knudsen, the chairman of the Initiative, has voiced concerns about the impact of these staff shortages on trust in German maritime infrastructure.
The first phase of the expansion project spans 15 kilometres and involves the delivery of 150,000 tons of stones from Norway for the pavement of the water exchange zone from Königsförde to Schinkel. Wet excavation will be used during the construction process.
Despite these challenges, the project leader, Georg Lindner, remains optimistic. He expects the operating route and the new slope above the waterfront in the entire first construction phase to be completed by early 2024.
The expansion of the canal between Königsförde and Kiel is considered very important due to expected increases in passage numbers starting from 2024. The criticism from the Initiative Kiel Canal is not related to the construction progress or schedule of the first phase of the Kiel Canal. Instead, it is directed towards the federal personnel policy affecting the canal.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information on this project, it is recommended to consult official sources such as the German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration or recent governmental announcements related to the canal expansion.
- The expansion of the Kiel Canal, a crucial connection for various industries, including finance, transportation, and public-transit, involves the delivery of 150,000 tons of stones from Norway.
- Despite staff shortages resulting in concerns about trust in German maritime infrastructure, the organization advocating for the canal's interests, the Initiative Kiel Canal, criticizes the federal personnel policy affecting the canal, not the construction progress or schedule of the first phase.
