Article

Fewer ships and less pilotage: Kiel Canal suffers from corona crisis like many other waterways


by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 26 May 2020 475 -

Brunsbüttel, photo by Frank Diegel

In April, 25 percent fewer ships on the German Kiel Canal (NOK) - and things could get even worse. It seems that the exemplary situation at the NOK certainly affects many other channels in the world in a similar way.


When the powerful tug bolides of the Kieler Schleppgesellschaft (SFK) lie unemployed on the quayside for days on end, this is an unmistakable sign for coastal residents: On the North Sea and Baltic Sea - but especially in the locks and on the German Kiel Canal (NOK) - there is little going on.

This has now been officially confirmed: Compared to the same month last year, around 25 percent fewer ships sailed the NOK in April 2020 - "only 1749 in total," says Claudia Thoma from the Water and Shipping Directorate in Kiel. In terms of cargo volumes, the authority registered only 5.01 million tonnes after 7.01 million tonnes in April 2019, a drop of 29 percent.

"The main factors for the currently declining traffic figures in the Kiel Canal are the corona-related decline in transshipment activity in the ports of the North Sea and Baltic Sea and the low bunker prices. This is leading to ships choosing the Skagen route."
Claudia Thoma


Matthias Probst as head of the pilot association is afraid that this decline is not yet over. "The first two weeks of May looked anything but good either." He doesn't want to rule out that the decline from last year will be as high as 40 percent.

Probst also points to low fuel costs and the decreasing time pressure that is causing shipowners to take the longer route around Denmark's northern tip. At the beginning of the year, a ton of heavy oil still costs 350 dollars, but at the moment the ships are paying just 100 dollars.

It is not only the price of oil
But according to Probst, the concern about an infection of the crew also keeps many ship owners from going through the canal with their ships. They want maximum lack of contact. Canal helmsmen, pilots, agents who enter the ship between Kiel and Brunsbüttel are considered a danger.

The massive decline in passages causes considerable financial losses for pilots. Although they are regarded as self-employed, their association has a status under public law - which is why they fall through all the grids of state emergency programs.

Claims on the German government
Jens Broder Knudsen, chairman of the Kiel-Canal initiative, recently wrote a letter to the Federal Ministry of Transport calling for a reduction in the charges for using the canal to make the waterway more attractive. In view of the billions invested in widening the canal and building new locks, the temporary waiver of navigation fees will not make a difference either, experts say.

What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Article Corona causes financial impact on some Marine Pilots

by Frank Diegel - published on 8 April 2020

Fewer vessels in voyage mean less pilotage and this means less income for many Pilots. Not every Pilot is an employee and many pilots are self-employed and organised in a brotherhood per example. They are earning only money if they are piloting a vessel. No vessel – no money.

0

Article Lock in Kiel-Holtenau is back in operation after accident

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 4 September 2020

According to WSA Kiel-Holtenau: The northern chamber of the Great Lock has been put back into operation. Both chambers are available to the shipping industry.

2

Video 24/7 Live Webcam - Kiel Canal at Kiel Lock in Germany | Nord-Ostsee-Kanal Schleuse Kiel

published on 29 August 2020

Webcam Schleuse Kiel-Holtenau | Webcam Lock Kiel-Holtenau
Pilotage Service in this Area by:

0

Article ABP invests around £9 million in state-of-the-art pilot boat fleet

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 9 November 2020

Associated British Ports (ABP) the UK’s largest and best-connected port operator, has commissioned a fleet of nine new state-of-the art pilot boats from Goodchild Marine Services, representing an investment of around £9 million to further enhance port operations across its network.

1

Article New library and favorites function on Marine-Pilots.com

published on 19 August 2021

Marine-Pilots.com has launched a new function for registered users today. From now you can tag articles and videos as favorites or sort them in personal libraries that can be created individually.

0

Article Rosmorport’s icebreakers completed over 2,400 pilotage operations

published on 20 January 2021

...in freezing seaports of Russia this season. In total, FSUE "Rosmorport" operates in 15 freezing seaports of the country.

0

Article Shri Sanjay Bhatia releases AIMPA's maiden Marine Pilots' Journal (Download here)

by Capt. Gajanan Karanjikar - Founder President - AIMPA - published on 16 August 2020

Shri Sanjay Bhatia former Chairman of Mumbai Port and Indian Port Association (IPA) expressed pleasure while releasing the All India Marine Pilots Association’s (AIMPA) maiden Issue of “Marine Pilot’s Journal” and applauded the efforts in taking out this kind of Journal to help highlight issues of pilots.

0

Article Realtime run-through of Ever Given

published on 26 March 2021

Here's a realtime run-through of the #EVERGIVEN accident. After it gets stuck, check out the vessel two behind Evergiven - moving "somewhat erratically" and almost crashing into the Maersk Denver in front.

2

Video Pilot Boarding in South Korea

published on 11 September 2021

Korean Pilot boarding PCC Vessel in Mokpo, Korea

0

Video Day in a Life of a TugBoat Captain in New York Harbor

published on 10 April 2021

Ever wonder what it would be like to work on a Tugboat? Come along a for glimpse of one day at work in New York Harbor.

0