Kiel Canal

[narcer]

Planning to transit the Kiel canal very soon (East -West) and have been told by a German citizen that you need a special inland waterways license before you can make the transit? Just wondering if anyone has any recent experience going through this canal and if this advise is indeed true or not?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

ICC with CEVNI is the usual requirement for European canals. I have that & didn't have any problem when I went through, although it's a few years ago.

 

[davidej]

I think the Kiel is classified as a canal which does not needs CEVNI.

Having been through it three times, I have never seen evidence of anyone checking qualifications.

 

[vyv_cox]

I think the Kiel is classified as a canal which does not needs CEVNI.

Having been through it three times, I have never seen evidence of anyone checking qualifications.

Me too, although some years ago. I was not asked for any documentation.

 

[Lightwave395]

Delivered a Hanse 505 from the factory to UK three years ago and motored through the canal enroute.
As others say, never asked for such and didn't have one anyway, just beware that the 'pontoon' in the baltic end entry lock is just above water level so a long way down, like a cliff edge off a high freeboard boat...

 

[Joker]

I can't find an authoritative source at the moment, but, no, you don't need any special qualifications.

 

[johnalison]

I wonder if the ships that pass through have to have the inland waterways certificates?

You don't even have to show the 3rd substitute these days and would be very unlikely to have anything inspected. The only inspection we ever had in Germany over many years was a visit by a single bloke off Neustadt who was mostly interested in our radio papers. He was not very knowledgable and thought that my short-range certificate meant that it only applied to British waters. (He also wondered why we were not flying the usual white ensign).

 

[knuterikt]

Some info here
https://www.kiel-canal.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/General-Info-about-Kiel-Canal-transits.pdf
or contact them
http://www.kiel-canal.de/

 

[chrisclaydon]

One thing nobody tells you is the solid timber pontoons in the locks float one inch above the water so tie heavy weights to the bottom of your fenders! Also there are eye bolts not cleats, at the back of the pontoon not the front, so be prepared to tie your lines to them or make them long enough to go through and back to the boat.

Don't forget to stop in one of the three permitted stopping places before it gets dark. Berthing at the little side canal half way with the lock at the end through to a smaller canal (forgot the name) is convenient, very peaceful and pretty, alongside berthing and is included in the canal fee (one night only).

No qualifications checked and AFAIK not required either. For a couple of years the canal was free of charge because they decided it was too dangerous for people to climb the ladders to pay at the locks. I think they have now got the new system working so you now buy your ticket from the machine on the pontoon just inside the kiel locks, no need to ever meet a human!

 

[Tomahawk]

Been through twice.
Both times we got stuck at the Baltic end for ages waiting for the lock keeper to allow us in.
Does seem odd because everything that goes in.... has to come out the other end so why is one locl so fast and the other so slow?

The transpirter bridge is impressive.

 

[johnalison]

Been through twice.
Both times we got stuck at the Baltic end for ages waiting for the lock keeper to allow us in.
Does seem odd because everything that goes in.... has to come out the other end so why is one locl so fast and the other so slow?

The transpirter bridge is impressive.

There is a lot of pot luck involved. One one occasion we were held in the Elbe for over two hours, and on other occasions we have swanned through, even as the only yacht. The wooden baulks in the locks are very low as has been said, but they are soggy wet wood and don't seem to do much harm if you contact them.

There are a lot of ferries across the canal but they appear to wait for passing craft, though it is necessary to avoid passing close to their shore ramps. The water in the canal is peaty brown but reputedly clean enough to swim in, which you might see at the one beach. There can be a slight current, so it is not necessarily a good place to calibrate a speed log. It can be quite entertaining to watch one's speed on GPS as a large ship passes, when a knot or two can be gained. There are regions where it is necessary to keep a greater distance from the shore, and these are marked by signs with an arrowhead and usually a 30 for metres. Look out for wildlife. I have seen buzzards, eider, goosander, and a lot of Egyptian geese among others.