by Mattia Micheli, SeaNewsEditor

The Kiel’s Canal is a 98-kilometre facility, with a maximum depth of 11 meters, connecting Kiel and Brunsbuettel, respectively on the Northern Sea and the Baltic Sea.

The canal is crossed by 7 bridges with a minimum height of 43 meters. It offers a significant shortcut for travellers between Great Britain and Sweden, bypassing a 190-mile detour through Denmark and thereby enhancing trade efficiency.

To cross from the North to the Baltic Sea, one must sail for 8 hours across the German hinterland, passing through the fields and small towns in the Schleswig-Holstein region.

Approaching the Canal

For vessels coming from the North Sea, it is required to start the procedure 24 hours before the arrival to Brunsbuettel, communicating the vessel’s dimensions, characteristics, and the ETA (Expected Time to Arrival). The maximum allowed dimensions are:

• 235 meters in length
• 32.5 meters in width
• 7 meters draft

The same data must be confirmed or updated three times: 12, 6 and 2 hours before arriving at the lock on the main entrance of the Canal.

Upon arrival at the Elbe's mouth, navigation must be supervised by a river pilot sent on board by the Kiel Canal’s Authority. The pilot will steer the vessel from the river’s mouth to the locks of the Canal (40 miles inland).

Entering the Canal

At the Canal’s entrance, vessels approach the locks—there are four locks on each side. The newer pair measures 310 meters in length and 42 meters in width and takes about 45 minutes to fill with water.

The older pair measures 125 meters long and 22 meters wide, needing 25 minutes to fill.

During this time, the vessels will provide the necessary documents and undergo inspections and other border procedures.

Once the lock gates open, depending on size, the vessel may follow different ways:

• If it is longer than 90 meters and wider than 13 meters, a new pilot boards after the river pilot disembarks to oversee the crew during transit.
• If it is longer than 90 meters, assistance by a tugboat is mandatory to prevent navigational issues.
• If it is over 100 meters with a draft greater than 6.1 meters or more, one or more specialized Canal helmsmen join the pilot on board.

Transiting the Canal

Because of its 160-meter width, the canal is navigable in both senses simultaneously. A challenge is the funnel-formed bottom, which brings the vessels closer to the centre than to the sides.

Therefore, overtaking large vessels is only possible on special occasions, when visibility is good and after notifying the vessel to be overtaken.

In just 8 hours, you can sail from Brunsbuettel to the Baltic Sea via the Kiel Canal. This route, used by 110 vessels daily, provides a more efficient link between northeastern and northwestern Europe, facilitating faster commerce.