Germany is planning to widen and deepen the 62-mile Kiel Canal, which links the North and Baltic seas, and saves vessels the 250-nautical-mile voyage around Denmark
German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee announced the plan last week.
According to a the information service AXS-Alphaliner, the expansion will increase the theoretical maximum vessel size in the canal to 280 meters in length and 33 meters in beam from the current 235 meters to 32.5 meters.
"It has to be acknowledged that this is merely a theoretical figure, since almost all ships of such dimensions will exceed the air-draught limitation of 40 meters, dictated by the canals 10 rail- and road bridges," said AXS Alphaliner.
The canal, which claims to be the world's busiest, first opened in 1895, and is a shortcut and fuel saver for ships bound to bound to Russia, Poland, Finland, Scandinavia and the Baltic states.
According to broadcaster Deutsche Welle the project will cost 280 million euros ($441 million), and is expected to be completed in 2018. |
