Second Wusterwitz lock opened for shipping traffic

Successful completion: On August 2, the second Wusterwitz lock was ceremoniously opened.

To the applause of the invited guests, the Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport Daniela Kluckert, the Minister for Infrastructure and State Planning of the State of Brandenburg Guido Beermann and the President of the General Directorate for Waterways and Shipping Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans- Heinrich Witte opened the newly built second Wusterwitz lock to shipping traffic.

The lock was built by the Wusterwitz Lock Construction Consortium, in which the companies Heitkamp Industrial Solutions, Johann Bunte Bauunternehmung and Bauer Spezialtiefbau combined their expertise.

A total of approx. 50,000 cubic meters of reinforced concrete were used in the construction project and approx. 200,00 cubic meters of earth were moved. The main work included the construction of a 440 meter long sheet pile wall, which was equipped with bollards and ladders. It serves as a berth and maintenance point for shipping.

The first ship to pass through the lock was the Elektra, the world's first zero-emission push boat powered by fuel cells. State Secretary Daniela Kluckert commented on this look into the future: "The commissioning of the new Wusterwitz lock is another milestone for our waterway network. What we are demonstrating here today with our hydrogen-powered ship is a glimpse into the future - a future with emission-free heavy-lift transports between Berlin and Hamburg."

Minister Guido Beermann added: "There is now a connection from the Rhine to Berlin, to Hanover, Hamburg and a connection as far as the port of Duisburg. This illustrates once again how important it is for the federal government to maintain the water infrastructure."

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Heinrich Witte emphasizes the importance of inland waterway vessels as an environmentally friendly mode of transport. Better utilization of the ships, reliable and safe route planning means more planning security for shipowners, brokers and companies, especially since pushed convoys with a length of up to 185 meters and with two-layer container traffic can now also use the waterway.

Heitkamp Industrial Solutions wishes the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration WSV.de much success with the lock and always enough water under the keel.