During operation - Refurbishment of Emden sea lock begins
With the renovation of the Great Seawall Sluice, a major modernization project is set to take place in the East Frisian seaport of Emden in the coming years. The enhancement is intended to occur in ongoing operation and is expected to last approximately ten years, according to the state-owned harbor infrastructure company Niedersachsen Ports (NPorts). The first works are reportedly set to begin this summer. In several stages, the sluice will be renovated, machinery and electrotechnology will be modernized, and the flood protection will be upgraded. Estimates put the cost of renovating the over 100-year-old structure at a minimum of 100 million Euros.
The Great Seawall Sluice is considered the lifeblood of the harbor, as it connects the Inner Harbor with the Outer Harbor and the Ems. Approximately half of the total cargo handling in Emden passed through the Inner Harbor last year. The 260-meter-long Great Seawall Sluice operates around the clock. According to NPorts, there were roughly 2,600 sluicing events there last year.
NPorts is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the 1913 sluice. The start of the modernization was originally planned for 2022. However, due to the complex tendering process, there were delays. Through the renovation, the operation is to be secured for at least 30 more years.
The planned refurbishment of the sluice is being funded by Niedersachsen Ports (NPorts), a company based in Lower Saxony, which oversees the maintenance and operation of the infrastructure in Emden's ports. Once completed, shipping activities through the renovated Great Seawall Sluice are expected to contribute to the expansion of Emden's prominent role as a key port in Europe, fostering increased shipping activities and potential for further development of its ports.
