Schleuse Müden reopened: Ship on the Moselle finally flows!
Schleuse Müden reopened: Ship on the Moselle finally flows!
The tired lock is officially back into operation after 55 days. On February 2, 2025, the first official smuggling took place in which numerous representatives from politics and shipping took part. Among the guests were Federal Minister of Transport Volker Wissing as well as local politicians such as the local chief Franz Oberhausen and Andy Becht. This marks an important step to restore shipping on the Moselle between Trier and Koblenz, which can run smoothly after a severe accident.
The lock had previously been out of operation since December 8, when a freighter rams the entrance gate and considerably damaged. The repair work was promoted by the quick reaction and commitment of around 15 employees who worked in four-shift operation. Head of Office Albert Schöpflin also praised his team's commitment, who volunteered for the work. The emergency opening was a unique undertaking, since so many ships have never been used around the clock before.
creative solutions accelerate the process
The work on the damaged Moselle lock in Müden was on schedule. In a kind of pioneering work, the employees of the Wasserstraßen- und Scheilfahrtsamt (WSA) took over the challenges that the situation brought with them. It was not only necessary to solve the underlying technical problems, but also to protect the interests of over 70 affected ships that could not continue in the period of repairs.
The lock chamber was emptied in 2024 before repair work on the destroyed chamber began in 2025. A new lock gate was made in Trier and the work on the lock was completed faster than originally planned. Actually, it was only expected to be used at the end of March, but thanks to high motivation and teamwork, shipping could be resumed on February 1st.
successful reopening
The first ship, the "Mainz", was successfully driven through the lock gate for reopening. According to the WSA Rhein-Mosel-Saar, the repair work is completely completed. The last trialets took place by Friday afternoon, in which the functions of the lock gates were tested and optimized. Experts examined the hydraulic systems and the programming of the 40 tons of weighing.The entire action not only shows the resistance and efficiency of the authorities involved, but also the importance of the tired lock for shipping on the Moselle. After almost two weeks in emergency operation, the challenges have been mastered and shipping can flow freely again, which is a relief for many freighter operators.
In this context, the Rhein-Zeitung on the success of the lock and emphasizes the significant role of the volunteers. The SWR complemented this information with details on the operation and the difficulties that had to be overcome before the reopening. Finally Tagesschau offers a comprehensive overview of the entire situation around the accident and the subsequent repair measures, which are of great importance for the region.
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