Mosel Shipping Halted as Repairs Begin on Damaged Lock

A collision at the Müden lock has stranded 70 ships, with emergency measures and long-term repairs underway to restore the vital waterway.

A cargo ship collision severely damaged the Müden lock on the Mosel, halting all shipping since Sunday and leaving 70 vessels stranded.
Authorities are preparing for emergency lock operations to move stranded ships, with tests this weekend determining if the process can begin on Monday or Tuesday.
The emergency lock procedure will take several hours per ship, significantly longer than the usual 20–30 minutes, and aims to clear the backlog by the end of the year.
Repairs to the lock, including the installation of a new gate, are expected to last until March 2025, with round-the-clock work planned through the holidays, except Christmas Eve.
The regional government has temporarily lifted Sunday trucking bans to facilitate alternative transport of goods, while neighboring countries and industries have offered assistance.