Repair of Mosel Lock in Müden: River Traffic Resumes Ahead of Schedule

On December 8, 2024, a cargo ship collided with the partially opened gates of the Müden lock while entering, causing significant damage. The impact tore both gate wings completely out of their anchors and also damaged other components of the lock. Initial assessments by the Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA) Mosel-Saar-Lahn suggested that repairs would not be completed until late March 2025.

Thanks to swift progress and smooth operations, the schedule has been significantly shortened. Concrete work is currently ongoing, after which the new lock gate will be installed. This gate, manufactured at the WSA’s workshop in Trier, was delivered to the site yesterday. The 12-meter-high and 14-meter-wide gate will be aligned, connected, and programmed following its installation to allow the lock to resume operations.

Initial test operations are planned for late January. If these are successful, ships could navigate the Mosel again without interruptions as early as early February—much sooner than initially expected. This rapid resumption of river traffic is especially important for the regional economy. Additionally, it ensures that the Mosel will be fully navigable in time for the start of the 2025 river cruise season.

Since the lock’s closure in December 2024, the Mosel has only been partially navigable. Ships stranded on the river were manually assisted through labor-intensive emergency lock operations. Among the vessels affected were river cruise ships such as the Anna Katharina (Phoenix Reisen), the Viking Herja (Viking Cruises), and the Excellence Queen (Swiss Excellence River Cruise). The final emergency lock operation took place just before Christmas, allowing all affected ships to continue their journeys in time.

With the repairs nearing completion and regular lock operations set to resume, the end of restrictions is now in sight.