New Niederfinow North ship lift
The new Niederfinow North ship lift enables larger inland waterway vessels to pass quickly over the 36 m difference in elevation on the Oder-Havel Canal. The trough covers the difference in elevation in three minutes and expands the usable transport capacity of the Havel-Oder Waterway.
The old ship lift, in operation since 1934, was too small for modern coasters and container ships. It formed a bottleneck because the vessels could not pass through or make full use of their cargo capacity; at the same time, annual throughput of around 4.4 million tonnes of freight towards Berlin was expected.
Together with partners, KREBS+KIEFER prepared the feasibility study and carried out structural checking. IRS Stahlwasserbau Consulting AG designed the steelwork and mechanical engineering, including the detailed design for the mechanical engineering. These services supported the technical implementation from design through to commissioning.
Disciplines
- Water
- Hydraulic Engineering
Companies
KREBS+KIEFER Ingenieure GmbH
IRS Stahlwasserbau Consulting AG
Client
Berlin Waterways Construction Authority
Duration
Until 2022
Location
Niederfinow, Brandenburg, Oder-Havel Canal, Germany
Project Activities
- Feasibility study with partners (1998–2000)
- Steelwork and mechanical engineering design by IRS (2003–2006)
- Checking of the design with partners (2004–2006)
- Technical checking across geotechnical engineering, concrete structures, steelwork, mechanical engineering and fire safety
- Checking of the electrical and control systems, earthworks and temporary works
- Structural stability checking of the entire load-bearing structure and erection stages
- Checking of the detailed design (2008–2022)
- Detailed design for the mechanical engineering by IRS, including the trough drive, trough safety system and closures (2010–2021)
- Sample-based construction monitoring
Impact
- Lifting and lowering vessels through a 36 m height difference in three minutes
- Passage of inland vessels weighing up to 2,300 tonnes
- Capacity for 104 standard containers rather than 27 on a modern motor cargo vessel
- Minimal energy demand for lifting due to the balance between trough and counterweights
- Start of operations 10/2022 after 14 years of construction; designed for a service life of more than 80 years
- Ecological compensation through near-natural mixed forests, protected biotopes, vegetated embankments and removed barriers
Awards
- Nomination for the German Civil Engineering Award 2024
Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to making a positive impact and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This project contributes to the following SDGs:
Companies
Project Images
