The North Sea–Baltic Canal Waterways and Shipping Authority has published several notices for the coming month: On 14 July, the canal will be closed for nine hours between kilometre 61.2 and 62.6 near Rendsburg due to loading operations at the Port of Rendsburg. Just one day later, the next full closure will take place between kilometre 67.2 and 69.6 at the Rader Hochbrücke. It will last 16 hours, from Monday evening to Tuesday morning. Anyone travelling on the NOK during this time should plan their route carefully.
Rendsburg: Nine-hour full closure due to loading operations
On 14 July, from 07:00 to 16:00, the section between kilometre 61.2 and 62.6 will be closed to through shipping. This is due to loading operations at the Port of Rendsburg, the port authorised for international shipping traffic located directly on the Kiel Canal. The Rendsburg district port is a modern industrial port with high-capacity handling facilities. When heavy loads need to be moved across the canal there, the waterway remains closed.
For recreational boaters, this means that anyone travelling on 14 July must either pass through Rendsburg before 7 am – or be prepared for a longer wait. The good news is that Rendsburg and the surrounding area offer attractive mooring options.
Rader High Bridge: 16-hour closure for bridge construction
The closure at the Rader Hochbrücke will last even longer. From 5.00 pm on Monday 15 July until 9.00 am on Tuesday 16 July, the section between kilometre 67.2 and 69.6 will be completely closed. This is due to lifting work on the new Rader Hochbrücke, one of the largest infrastructure projects in Schleswig-Holstein.
The old Rader viaduct on the A7 motorway over the Kiel Canal is being replaced by a new structure. This massive project will cost €840 million and will be carried out in three phases, with completion scheduled for 2030. Short-term closures will be necessary from time to time when the bridge girders are hoisted into place over the canal. The bridge sections are so large and heavy that no shipping traffic is possible whilst they are being hoisted into position.
Anyone travelling on the NOK on the afternoon of Monday 15 July should be either west of kilometre 67.2 or east of kilometre 69.6 by 5 pm. Otherwise, you’ll have to moor up and wait until Tuesday morning.
Why not stay for a while?
The good news is that there are several lovely spots to relax in the area surrounding the closed sections. You can see the best spots in our photo gallery above.
Gieselau Canal (NOK kilometre 40.5): One of the most popular spots along the canal and ideal for the Rendsburg closure. At kilometre 40.5, you turn half a mile inland and moor in a picturesque spot in front of the pretty lock and its lift bridge, surrounded by trees and fields. The whole area is lined with jetties in an almost paradisiacal tranquillity. Crews chat, barbecues are lit, and in summer the 20 to 30 berths are sometimes all taken. Its almost central location on the Kiel Canal makes it an ideal stop. Only when a really large barge passes does it cause the water level in the canal to rise suddenly by about 50 to 60 centimetres and fall again shortly afterwards – the boat then jerks against its mooring lines.
Büdelsdorf Yacht Club: This small marina, with its extremely friendly harbour master, is situated to the north-east on the opposite bank and comes highly recommended. Various supermarkets for provisions are tucked away behind a small wood; you sit with a view of Rendsburg’s church tower and the masts of the marina opposite. In strong northerly winds, this mooring is calmer than the Gieselaukanal.
Lake Borgstedt (NOK kilometre 70): The lake has two access points – one just before and one just after the motorway viaduct. At Borgstedter See are the jetties of Yachtservice Schreiber, a small but well-equipped facility which, although only a few hundred metres from the Kiel Canal, is sheltered. Further east on the lake lies the Borgstedt Yacht Club’s facility. However, depending on the wind, the nearby motorway can be heard quite clearly. This mooring is perfectly positioned between the two closures.
Lake Flemhude (NOK kilometre 85.4): The idyllic, solitary anchorage on the NOK. The water extends outwards to a depth of around two to three hundred metres; you can anchor between the buoys laid out in the roadstead or moor to the dolmens using lines tied to the bow and stern posts. Despite the proximity to the canal and the convoy of freighters passing through, it is a truly tranquil spot. There is hardly any swell, so nothing stands in the way of a peaceful evening. However, there are no local amenities. This spot is located east of the Rader Hochbrücke and is ideal for anyone wishing to wait out the closure there.
Dückerswisch (NOK kilometre 20.7): Anyone who has to wait west of the Rendsburg closure and wants to marvel at the huge ships up close whilst enjoying a sundowner in the cockpit should moor at the Dückerswisch junction, using the bow and stern bollards. The bollards are located in a small cove behind a headland. Although there is some swell, the view of the traffic is truly spectacular.
Holtenau jetty: Just before the lock at Holtenau, there is a waiting jetty for yachts, where crews are also allowed to stay overnight. Ideal for anyone waiting east of the Rader Hochbrücke for the lock to open on Tuesday morning.
Gieselau Canal (NOK kilometre 40.5): The Gieselau Canal branches off the Kiel Canal at kilometre 40.5, heading north-west. Around 800 metres past the entrance, there are mooring points directly in front of the lock. An idyllic mooring spot away from the hustle and bustle of the main canal, well suited for a longer break.
Lake Flemhuder (NOK kilometre 85): The moorings on Lake Flemhude offer an idyllic place to moor right next to the Kiel Canal. The shallow lake lies to the east of the Rader High Bridge and is a popular spot for crews looking to spend a quiet night.
Rendsburg: In Rendsburg itself, there are two marinas offering guest berths: the Rendsburg Marina/Rendsburg Regatta Club and the Eider Marina. Both have a Rendsburg is a town well worth a visit, with its famous railway viaduct and the transporter bridge – perfect for a longer stay.
Old Eider: If you have more time, you can turn off the Gieselaukanal into the Alte Eider. The Eider is a charming side waterway with several harbours and anchorages.
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