500 Million Euros for the Expansion of the Kiel Canal

The Kiel Canal records almost twice as many ship passages as the Suez Canal. The expansion of the canal not only strengthens the economy in Schleswig-Holstein and Northern Europe but also contributes to climate protection, says Federal Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer.

(Berlin/Kiel) The NOK is the most navigated artificial waterway in the world. With 30,000 ship passages annually, it records almost twice as many ships as the Suez Canal. With the groundbreaking ceremony for the first expansion phase of the eastern route, a major project for the federal waterway is officially launched today: the federal government is investing 500 million euros in the next ten years in the 20-kilometer stretch between Kiel and Großkönigsförde, with a total of more than 2.6 billion euros flowing into the maintenance and expansion of the canal – more than any other federal waterway.

Federal Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer: “The expansion of the last bottleneck of the Kiel Canal will lead to significant improvements for international shipping. Even today, the canal is an essential part of global transport routes. The advantages of the NOK are obvious: lower costs, shorter travel times, and less CO2. Every investment in the NOK is thus active climate protection and strengthens the German economy.”

NOK is the Lifeline of Northern Europe

Schleswig-Holstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Günther: “With today’s groundbreaking ceremony, an important expansion phase of the Kiel Canal begins. The NOK is a lifeline for us in Schleswig-Holstein and for the entire economy, especially in Northern Europe. It connects the North and Baltic Seas, bringing economic regions together. The expansion is taking off with the additional lock chamber in Brunsbüttel and the eastern route section, fulfilling a long-awaited journey.”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Heinrich Witte, President of GDWS: “The expansion of the eastern route is an ambitious major construction site, which, alongside other ongoing canal projects, is a prerequisite for a high-performance waterway. Good solutions for the concerns of residents and the environment have been found in the implementation of the construction measure.”

Various Interest Groups Considered in Planning

Various interests were taken into account in the planning: from the federal and state governments, counties and municipalities, residents and shipowners, to farmers and environmentalists. For example, there will be a continuous side path that cyclists and walkers can use. Even the soil excavation will be designed so that the areas blend seamlessly into the natural landscape of the northern German hill country.

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