According to the Waterways and Shipping Directorate West, so-called stilts or piles are increasingly being installed in inland shipping - and particularly in new builds. These are then not only used in addition to anchors or for mooring with ropes or wires when the ship is at a standstill, but in many cases also as the sole substitute for anchors. However, the WSD West emphasises that this does not meet the requirements of the Inland Waterways Ordinance.
In addition, stilts and piles are increasingly being used in sealing sections with an impermeable sewer bed. This poses an urgent risk of puncturing the seal or at least damaging it to such an extent that uncontrolled water leakage could occur. The same problem applies to culverts crossing the waterway.
In order to remedy this situation, an order has now been issued prohibiting the driving of stilts or piles into the ground on the federal waterways Rhine-Herne Canal, Wesel-Datteln Canal, Ruhr, Rhine-Kleve Navigation Route, Datteln-Hamm Canal, Dortmund-Ems Canal and Coastal Canal in stretches where anchoring is not permitted.
However, the ban does not apply to vehicles and floating equipment during their use at construction sites outside of sealed stretches and the crossing area of culverts. The competent waterways and shipping authority may authorise further exceptions for construction and emergency operations.
