DEME: First phase of Kiel Canal dredging nears end

Dredging in the first expansion phase of the Kiel Canal in Germany is nearing completion, DEME Group said.

The eastern section of the canal is progressing significantly, with the first phase of dredging almost finished. So far, DEME’s backhoe dredger ‘Peter the Great’ has removed nearly 1.1 million cubic metres of soil.

The current focus is on refining the underwater slopes and removing unevenness on the canal bed, with the works set to finish by mid-2025.

According to DEME, this project is part of a larger effort to widen the canal for more reliable shipping traffic and to prepare it for future shipping needs.

The Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration is working on the eastern section between Großkönigsförde and Holtenau, with plans to widen the canal to a minimum bed width of 70 metres.

Additionally, the curves are being softened to allow ships to pass more easily.