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Kiel Canal News

21 Dec 2023

Godmother Names Sanmar Harbor Tug After Her Son

Source: Sanmar Shipyards

Sanmar’s Altinova Shipyard held a christening ceremony last Saturday for a powerful new harbour tug destined to work for German operator H. Schramm Towage.Lara König, took on the honorary role of godmother to the new tug, which is named Bo after her two-year-old son, who is the godchild of SCHRAMM group owner Hans-Helmut Schramm.Bo is based on the exclusive-to-Sanmar TRAktor-Z 2500SX design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan, part of the Turkish tug and workboat builder’s Deliçay series.Powered by two high-speed…

23 Jan 2023

RoRo ferry MV Tennor Ocean sets off for Test Voyage

The “MV Tennor Ocean” on the Flensburg Fjord (photo credit: FSG/Finn Karstens).

MV Tennor Ocean, newbuilding 782, from Germany's shipyard Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft recently set off on test voyage on the North Sea and Baltic Sea. The 210-m RoRo ferry is on the move to Dock 3 at Lloyd Werft. During its week-long stay there, the shipbuilders of Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) will carry out the remaining work on the ship’s hull to optimize the performance data. Afterwards, the “MV Tennor Ocean” will set out on a multi-day test voyage on the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

05 Jan 2023

Liebherr Delivers Mobile Harbor Crane to Port Esbjerg

(Photo: Liebherr)

Last week, Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH delivered a new LHM 800 High Rise mobile harbor crane to its customer Port Esbjerg.The delivery took place shortly after an incident in the Kiel Canal, in which an LHM 600 ordered by Port Esbjerg was damaged while passing under the Holtenau High Bridge.Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH said it sent service engineers and technical specialists to assess the situation on site and to assist with the recovery immediately after the incident. Every effort was made to deliver a replacement unit to Port Esbjerg as quickly as possible…

21 Mar 2022

IT Bug Jams Baltic-North Sea Traffic

Š Hans / Adobe Stock

A software problem that blocked all ship traffic in the main channel between the Baltic and the North Sea on Sunday was not a hacker attack and has been fixed, a spokesperson for Germany's Kiel Canal Waterways and Shipping Authority said on Monday.The incident was caused by the installation of a new vessel traffic management software system, the spokesperson said.Fixing a small error in the code allowed the channel to go back into full operation after more than 12 hours of outage, the spokesperson added."The traffic controller went down at 8 o'clock yesterday morning.

16 Dec 2021

Swan Hellenic Takes Delivery of New Cruise Ship SH Minerva

(Photo: Helsinki Shipyard)

Helsinki Shipyard has delivered SH Minerva, the first of three Vega-class ships under construction in Helsinki for Swan Hellenic’s heritage brand.After being christened on November 23, the vessel left Helsinki on December 3 and is heading toward Ushuaia, from where the vessel will take off for a New Year maiden Antarctic cruise departing December 29. The new ship sailed through the Kiel Canal on December 6.The new purpose-designed ship is the first in a series of three next-generation polar expedition vessels designed for worldwide cruising with a strong focus on high-latitude areas.

12 Oct 2021

Machine Odyssey: Autonomous Voyage Around Denmark Halfway Complete

 The shore-side commanders of Nellie Bly celebrate the milestone achievement from their posts in the company's Boston, Mass., USA, remote command station. (Photo: Sea Machines)

A high-tech workboat is more than halfway through its record-setting journey to autonomously circumnavigate Denmark.The Nellie Bly, equipped with Sea Machines autonomous command and control systems, arrived in Laeso, Denmark on Saturday, marking the halfway point of the 1,000-nautical-mile autonomous voyage.The journey, which Sea Machines is calling "The Machine Odyssey", officially commenced on September 30, when the Nellie Bly departed Cuxhaven, Germany, (near Hamburg) for Denmark. The vessel has a crew on board but is being controlled by U.S. Coast Guard licensed officers in Boston.

08 Oct 2020

Historic Lindenau Shipyard Part of Nobiskrug's Expansion Plans

The historic Lindenau Shipyard will get and investment injection and support Nobiskrug's growth plans. Photo: Nobiskrug

German shipyard NOBISKRUG, renowned for its custom superyachts such as Sailing Yacht A and Artefact, is expanding the capacity and capabilities of its new build and refit business, an expansion that will include the historic Lindenau facility located in the city of Kiel.Nobiskrug continues to see high demand for new build projects and large refits despite the global economic impact of Covid-19 in 2020. The parent company Privinvest approved an investment package to upgrade the…

16 Apr 2020

Interview: Dr. Dirk Jürgens, Heads of R&D, Voith Turbo Marine

The Voith Schneider Propeller is ideal for autonomous and remote-controlled vessels because on the one hand the forces can be managed very logically (according to X/Y logic) and on the other hand it can allocate desired forces so quickly. Any sensor errors or errors in data processing can therefore best be compensated by the VSP. Together with partners, we have advanced the technology development to such an extent that remote-controlled tractors with VSP can be realized. Dr. Dirk JĂźrgens, Manage

Dr. Dirk Jürgens heads R&D at Voith Turbo Marine, a part of the family owned Voith conglomerate which employs more than 19,000 people in 60 countries. Voith Rudderpropellers were chosen as the propulsion system for the three new Staten Island Ferry vessels, and Dr. Jürgens discusses the evolution of the system.The ‘Voith’ name is a well-known one in the maritime industry, but to start please provide an overview of the product and service you offer to the maritime industry.The…

05 Feb 2020

DEME JV Wins Kiel Canal Contract

Belgian dredging group DEME has been awarded a contract as part of a joint venture for the widening of the Kiel Canal in Germany.Two DEME subsidiaries are to carry out marine dredging works for the €99m (£84m) widening of a 4km stretch of the Kiel Canal. Works started in January 2020 and will run until the end of 2023.The Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, represented by the WSA Kiel-Holtenau, commissioned the joint venture with the construction work to expand 4 km of the eastern section of the Kiel Canal.The contract carries a total value of approximately EUR 99 million in which the DEME Group’s subsidiaries Nordsee Nassbagger…

14 Dec 2019

Black Shark Sails Through Another Milestone

Black Shark - Night render (Photo: NOBISKRUG GmbH)

The custom built hull for NOBISKRUG’s 77-meter Project Black Shark has arrived the at the shipyard’s Rendsburg facility. The towing of the hull from Kiel to Rendsburg marks a significant milestone in the new build project.It took the power of two tugs to haul the hull from the Kiel facility on the shores of the Baltic Sea, setting off at 10am in the direction of Rendsburg. Black Shark’s hull passed through locks before entering the Kiel Canal where it spent three hours travelling at the maximum speed of 8 knots.

04 Dec 2019

New Hybrid Powered Cruise Ship Completes Sea Trials

Photo: MOTION AIR/Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten’s new hybrid battery powered expedition cruise ship MS Fridtjof Nansen has completed sea trials and will be completed earlier than expected. As a result, Hurtigruten is adding a series of shorter pre-inaugural voyages.MS Fridtjof Nansen is packed with green technology and large battery packs and is, alongside her sister ship MS Roald Amundsen, the world’s first battery-hybrid powered cruise ship.The Vessel is set for delivery by the end of 2019, well ahead of her April 1 inaugural voyage from Hamburg to the Norwegian coast.Departing from London (March 7)…

21 Mar 2019

Lürssen Launches 95m Superyacht Madsummer

The German shipyard Lürssen launched the 95-metre yacht Madsummer, previously known as project Fiji, from its yard in Rendsburg.The 311-footer superyacht hit the waters of the Kiel Canal and showed off her exterior lines designed by Harrison Eidsgaard."The Owner’s captain and Moran Yacht & Ship supervised the project and brought in their huge spectrum of experience and consolidated knowledge," said a press release.Madsummer‘s exterior lines done by London-based yacht and aircraft design studio Harrison Eidsgaard. The interior is designed by Studio Laura Sessa.Among the special features are a large beach club and spa area with a sea terrace on the lower deck. On the upper deck aft, there is a walkable skylight and an integrated fireplace for cosy moments in the evening.

28 Jan 2019

Containerships Nord Completes 1st LNG Bunkering

CMA CGM subsidiary Containerships said that its first LNG-fuelled container vessel, M/S Containerships Nord, successfully underwent her first Marine LNG bunkering at the Port of Rotterdam.Around 240 metric tons of Marine LNG was bunkered to the vessel – an amount that can take her on a roundtrip from Rotterdam to St. Petersburg and back sailing through the Kiel canal twice.The first bunkering was carried out at lay bay berth in a ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation from Shell’s Bunker Vessel, the Cardissa. In future, the bunkering will be carried out at a normal operational berth simultaneously with loading and discharging operations.

05 Jul 2018

New Pilot Tenders ‘Dithmarschen’ and ‘Steinburg’ Named

The new pilot transfer tenders ‘Dithmarschen’ and ‘Steinburg’ were named in Brunsbüttel at the 3rd of July. Of a new type and identical design, these will be deployed by the Elbe and NOK I pilots’ associations in the heavily frequented entrance to the Kiel Canal. Around the clock and in all weather and all seas, these steel-hull craft with an aluminium superstructure ensure a rapid and safe transfer service. The shape of these ships has been adapted to the special conditions in their area of operations, e.g. short, high waves, as well as the special demands of the pilot transfer service in these pilotage waters. Among these are the short approach run to the vessel, safe running along the ship’s side, rapid casting off and turning away from ships served.

11 Sep 2018

Uniper Sees Merit in Building LNG Terminal at Wilhelmshaven

Š Ernst Pieber / Adobe Stock

Germany's Uniper on Tuesday said it favors a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at the Wilhelmshaven deep sea port on the North Sea coast, less than a week after peer RWE said it secured access to capacity should a rival project at Brunsbuettel go ahead."Wilhelmshaven in particular can be a suitable location, there are many arguments in favour of it," spokesman Leif Erichsen said in a written statement.He cited the port's ability to offer infrastructure for LNG vessels of all sizes and its proximity to the German long-distance gas pipeline grids and underground storage caverns in the norther

13 May 2015

Single Window Reporting for All German Ports

Effective from 27 May 2015, German Authorities will implement the reporting requirements for vessels according to EC-directive 2010/65/EU (national single window reporting formalities). This directive is designed to achieve harmonization and simplification of reporting formalities in all European ports and the Kiel-Canal, based on the mandatory electronic data exchange of relevant information between the maritime transport sector and authorities. The responsible reporting party has to report the relevant information via "National Single Window" only once. The "National Single Window" passes this data to the competent authorities for the respective port visit or for the transit of a vessel through the Kiel Canal. Please visit www.national-single-window.de/index.html for further information.

27 Aug 2014

Panama Canal: The Billion Dollar Challenge

As the Panama Canal prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, insurers are warning of the increased risks that will arise from the plan to double the cargo-carrying capacity of the world’s most famous canal. In a report entitled Panama Canal 100: Shipping Safety and Future Risks, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) identifies that the value of insured goods transiting the canal zone may increase by over $1 billion per day following completion of the Third Set of Locks Project, which will see two new sets of locks built, creating a third transit lane for larger ships.

06 Sep 2014

Kiel Canal Lock Closure for Maintenance

The Kiel-Canal Authorities advise that the New Big South Lock Chamber at Brunsbuettel will be out of service for maintenance during the hours between 0700 and 1600 from 8 September to about 11 September. (For information about operations in Germany contact the GAC UK Hub Agency Centre at [email protected]) Source: Sartori & Berger - GAC agent

25 Sep 2017

Neptune Shipyard Completes First AIDAnova Module

A module of the new cruise ship AIDAnova has been released into the water for the first time at the Neptun shipyard in Rostock, which belongs to the Meyer Group. This is the first of two floating parts, so-called Floating Engine Room Units (FERU), which was placed onto the Warnow river with a special lowering device. The complex module, which stretches over 120 meters long, 42 meters wide and is three decks high, is carrying AIDAnova's four Caterpillar dual-fuel engines, and hence is the heart of the vessel. The shipment of the first AIDAnova module from Rostock to the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg is scheduled to take place from September 25-28, 2017, depending on the weather conditions. It’s time to set sail as planned next Monday, September 25, 2017, at 10 a.m.

16 Nov 2017

Inside the World's First LNG Containership Conversion

Wes Amelie is now driven by a 7,800 kW MAN 8L51/60DF main engine. (Photo: Wessels Reederei)

The world’s first container feeder vessel refit to use natural gas was commissioned in late August in Bremerhaven, ushering in a new era in the use of alternative fuels across the global maritime sector. The container vessel Wes Amelie, owned by Wessels Reederei, Haren/Ems, was converted for the use of methane as a standard fuel at the German Dry Docks Shipyard in Bremerhaven, making it the world’s first of its kind vessel which consumes environmentally friendly methane. This conversion is more than simply another environmentally advanced ship…

22 Oct 2015

Port of Kiel: Cruise Shipping Sets Passenger Record

"AIDAcara" in the port of Kiel (Photo: Port of Kiel)

Press release- This year’s cruise shipping season in Kiel was ending on Tuesday October 20th with a visit by the “AIDAcara”. Overall the port registered 133 calls this year by 25 different ships with a total tonnage of more than 8.6 million GT (an increase of 19.4% over last year). The port’s cruise terminals saw 458,771 passengers (29.6% more than in 2014) board or leave a cruise ship. Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director of the PORT OF KIEL (Seehafen Kiel GmbH & Co. KG) said: “Both passenger figures and overall tonnage totals have set new records for Kiel”.

14 Jan 2015

Vessel Delay at Kiel Canal, Germany

Vessels with LOA over 125m and/or draft over 6.5m planning to transit the Kiel Canal are facing waiting times of about 14 hours at Kiel-Holtenau. The waiting time at Brunsbuttel, however, has decreased to about 4 hours. (For information about operations in Germany contact the GAC UK Hub Agency Centre at [email protected])

24 Jan 2015

Collision With lock Gate in Kiel Canal

Delays can be expected in the Kiel Canal following a collision this yesterday, 23 January, with the small north lock gate at Brunsbuettel. Only the big north lock chamber and the small south lock chamber at Brunsbuettel are currently available for transits. (For information about operations in Germany contact the GAC UK Hub Agency Centre at [email protected]) Source: Sartori & Berger – GAC agent