Mosel River Reopens to Shipping After Damaged Lock Repairs

The Mosel river in Germany has reopened to shipping after a damaged lock was repaired and is functioning, albeit more slowly than usual. The lock, which was damaged in an accident involving a passenger vessel, will be examined after each vessel transit and a diver will inspect it below water once a week. The river is an important transit route for grains and rapeseed between Germany and France.

The Mosel River in Germany has resumed limited shipping operations following the repair of a damaged lock. The incident, which occurred on July 3, involved a passenger vessel damaging the lock at Sankt Aldegund between Koblenz and Trier, a crucial point for grain and rapeseed transit between Germany and France [1]. Attempts to reopen the river were made on July 7, with initial trials allowing around 40 vessels to transit downriver using the damaged lock [2].

The lock will be examined after each vessel transit, and a diver will inspect it below water at least once a week. This process ensures the safety of the vessels and the integrity of the lock. If the current operations continue successfully, upriver freight traffic could resume as early as July 8 [3].

The reopening of the Mosel River is crucial for the region's trade, as it is a key transit route for grains and rapeseed. The lock accident in December 2024 led to the suspension of physical delivery of rapeseed futures by Euronext to river ports in eastern France [1].

The repair and reopening of the lock demonstrate the resilience of Germany's inland waterways infrastructure and its ability to adapt to disruptions. The successful reopening of the Mosel River is a positive development for the region's economy and trade, and it is expected to have a positive impact on the prices of grains and rapeseed in the coming weeks.

References:
[1] https://infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/ports-shipping/freight-shipping-disrupted-on-germanys-mosel-river-after-lock-damage/122244764
[2] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L8N3T60AZ:0-german-tests-to-reopen-mosel-river-to-shipping-successful-authorities-say/
[3] https://safety4sea.com/germany-tries-to-reopen-key-waterway-following-lock-incident/