Ship Lifting Installation Niederfinow

After 14 years of construction, the ship lift in Niederfinow was officially inaugurated on 4 October 2022. Werner Sobek was responsible for the structural engineering of the 520 million euro project.

3,500 tonnes, 37 metres, 30 minutes

The vertical lift overcomes a height of about 37 metres – and does so in about 30 minutes of lock passage. The actual lifting process only takes about 3 minutes. In future, the new ship lift will also enable larger cargo ships, such as the “Great Rhine Ship” with a length of 110 metres and a width of 11.4 metres and a total weight of 3,500 tonnes, to navigate the Oder-Havel Waterway.

The structure made of reinforced concrete and steel has a length of approx. 130 m, a width of 50 m and a height of 60 m. The connection to the upper outer harbour is made via a 65 m long steel canal bridge.

In 1997, the decision was made to build a new, larger ship’s hoist at Niederfinow Nord. In autumn 2006, earthworks began between the current lift and the lock stairs.

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