March 22 - At a parliamentary evening in Berlin - organised by the Port of Hamburg Marketing and attended by Pater Ramsauer, minister of transport for Germany, and 150 high-ranking representatives of politics, business and trade associations - the threat
A key discussion was the Kiel Canal (NOK), one of the world's most heavily used artificial waterway, and how it was completely barred for one week to vessels over 125 m in length due to damage on one of its large lock gates.
With regard to the closure Ramsauer noted that that steps were taken to "effect emergency repairs at the highest possible speed."
He also had good news of the construction of the urgently needed fifth lock chamber at Brunsbüttel, on to the North Sea - the German parliamentary budgetary committee has given the go-ahead for building costs that have been increased by EUR65 million. Ramsauer invited tenders for the new lock construction with immediate effect.
