NEWS
Kiel Canal Half Yearly Figures for 2009
In spite of the continuing global economic crisis traffic along the Kiel Canal proceeds at a reduced but nevertheless stable level. In the last three months in particular there as been a renewed slightly positive trend.
In the first six months of this year 14,643 ships passed along the canal, 33.9% fewer than in the first half-year 2008. In the previous year 22,153 ships were registered up to June.
After the rollercoaster rides in traffic volume at the end of last year and the beginning of this, the number of ships sailing through since April is now starting to pick up. A total of 2,567 ships passed along the Canal in June, compared with 2,428 in May and 2,255 in April.
This is a gratifying development which, while not permitting a conclusion or projection, does represent a trend that gives hope for a certain stabilisation.
A modest increase is also demonstrated in terms of cargo. While just 5,549,754 t were transported in January of this year, this number rose to 5,717,767 t in June. A total freight of 32,953,908 t was transported in the first half-year of 2009.
The positive trend of the past three months is also reflected in the gross register tonnage. In April of this year 8,093,521 t were registered, while in June it was 9,873,483 t. Overall the gross register tonnage in the first half year amounted to 55,616,252 t.
The old Levensau high-level bridge is being rebuilt
The Kiel-Holtenau Wasser-und Schifffahrtsamt (Water and Shipping Authority or WSA) has been charged by the Wasser-und Schifffahrtsamt Nord (WSD) with the rebuilding of the old high-level Levensau road and rail bridge over the Kiel Canal (NOK) at a cost of approx. 47 million euros.
After the reconstruction of the Grünenthal high-level bridge (1986) and the Kiel Prinz Heinrich Bridge (1996) this marks the replacement of the third high-level bridge over the canal.
The basis of this decision by the Federal Ministry for Transport, Construction and Urban Development is the result of research showing that it is more viable to build a new bridge than to continue using and maintaining the 115 year old structure, the oldest bridge over the Canal.
The Levensau bridge is furthermore the principal bottleneck for shipping traffic on the Canal, since the minimum clearance of 42m is achieved only in the central section of the bridge arch.
Statistics for June and July 2008
The months of June and July once again showed a clear increase in the number of vessels passing through Kiel Canal. In June, a total of 3,727 ships made the canal passage, or 3.1% more than in June 2007, and a total of 3,659 ships in July, or 5.5% more than in July 2007. For the entire year through the end of July 2008, the total number of ships also increased by 3.3% over the same time period of last year.
By the end of July 2008, a total payload of 64,459,324 tons had been transported through the canal – a number which in 2007 was only achieved by August. In terms of the gross tonnage of 105,170,978, we are ahead of last year by one month as well.
Kiel Canal shows continuous upward trend
Mid-year results 2008
Looking at the mid-year results for 2008, we can see clearly increasing traffic numbers for Kiel Canal. Between January and June 2008, a total of 22,153 vessels transported 55,496,231 tons of payload through Kiel Canal. While this increase in traffic numbers is relatively low at 3% over the mid-year result for 2007, the payload numbers show a significant increase of 11.8%. Projections made at the end of 2007 indicated that for the first time 100 million tons of payload might be transported through Kiel Canal, a number that was just barely missed at 99,600,730 tons. Based on this trend, the expectation is that the magic barrier of 100 million tons of payload will be broken in 2008, simply because the ever-increasing vessels are capable of transporting greater payloads.
The statistics for traffic groups show a significant change over the prior year. The most obvious change is the increase of 93.1% in Traffic Group 6, from 116 to already 224 as of this writing. Traffic Group 3 increased by only 1.9% to 10,450 when compared to the same period of last year, and Traffic Group 4 increased by 20.2% to 4,967 vessels.
On the other hand, Traffic Group 1 decreased by 29% to 1,329 vessels, and Traffic Group 5 decreased by 14.5% to 2,282 vessels. Despite having the lowest growth rate, Traffic Group 3 is the most frequently represented ship size, thereby including almost 50% of all vessels passing through Kiel Canal during the first half of 2008. This underlines the movement from smaller ships to mid-sized and largest traffic group categories.
Traffic Group 3 essentially includes vessels of more than 65/85 m up to 120/140 m in length, and more than 13/11 m up to 19/17 m in breadth, and with a draught of more than 3.70 m up to 6.10 m.
Traffic Group 4 essentially includes vessels up to 160 m in length and up to 20 m in breadth, plus a draught up to 9.50 m.
Restrictions eased for large container feeder ships on Kiel Canal
Until recently, the increasing numbers of 1,400-TEU container ships passing through Kiel Canal were subject to a draught restriction to 9.30 m due to their overall dimensions.
However, due to their sleek underwater design and their excellent manoeuvrability, a test period has been started to allow these ships – upon request - to pass through Kiel Canal with a maximum draught of 9.50 m.
Shortcut through Kiel Canal in high demand during October
Savings of approximately 260 nautical miles and 10 hours of sailing have contributed to the continued upward trend of Kiel Canal. Following a slight seasonal decrease of ship passages in September (206 ships less than in 2007), the month of October featured 2 % more ships (3,662) using the shortcut between the North Sea and the Baltic than during October 2007. To make that saved detour around Skagen even more profitable for the ship owners, the vessels transported 11 percent more payload, i.e. 8,177,570 tons in October 2007 vs. 9,228,385 tons in October 2008.
And the ship size demonstrates this upward trend as well. The number of ships in Traffic Groups 5 (160 m and up) and 6 (200 m and up) continues to increase. (Traffic Groups 5/6 in 2007: 343/32/; in 2008: 371/36). For the last 4 years, especially ships in Traffic Group 5 have been using Kiel Canal more frequently.
In recent years, the gross tonnage of ships has jumped upward. While the numbers were 1,600 GT in 1995, they are at 4,100 GT today. Compared to October of last year, the gross tonnage passing through Kiel Canal has increased by 8.7%.
The trend toward longer and wider ships on Kiel Canal renders the planned expansion and dredging of the most frequented artificial waterway in the world an urgent necessity.
However, a turndown is observed in the cargo rates of feeder ships. The supply and distributor ships transport on average 1,400 containers through Kiel Canal. Payload prices for such cargo have decreased.
Statistics May 2008
We can record a continuing increase in the number of vessels on the Kiel-Canal. 18,423 vessels navigated the canal until the end of May this year. Compared to last year, this is an increase of 2.9%. 3,791 vessels were recorded in May alone, which is an increase of 5.1% compared to last year.
Like in previous months, the number of larger vessels increases. In May this year, twice as many Class 6 vessels navigated the Kiel-Canal compared to last year.
This increase is also noticeable in the cargo quantity. A total of 8,996,971 tons of cargo were transported on the canal this month, 11.9% more than in May 2007.
Statistics April 2008
This month saw a maximum number of passages of Class 6 vessels. Over 50 vessels of this size navigated the Kiel-Canal, more than ever before.
A total of 3,573 vessels navigated the Kiel-Canal this month and transported 8,819,226 tons of cargo. The tons of transported cargo increased by 8.74% compared to last year.
Statistics March 2008
So far in 2008, 11,059 vessels navigated the Kiel-Canal. We specifically recorded an increase of Class 6 vessels. During the first three months of this year, 100 Class 6 vessels were recorded, an increase of 76.8% compared to the first three months in 2007.
The 3,793 vessels navigating the canal in March transported 9,745,021 tons of cargo. 9,180,994 tons of cargo were transported on the canal the entire way. The remaining 564,027 tons of cargo were transported on 826 vessels partway.
Statistics February 2008
A total of 3,600 vessels navigated the Kiel-Canal in February 2008, an increase of 6.3% compared to February 2007. Furthermore, the number of “large” vessels markedly increased again this month, with a recorded number of twice as many Class 6 vessels compared to last year.
A total of 33 Class 6 vessels navigated the canal in February alone. At the same time, the number of Class 1 vessels decreased by 29% to a total of 188 vessels. Correspondingly, the total tons of transported cargo increased by 20% to 9,412,099 tons, as well as the total registered tonnage, which saw an increase of 17.6% to 14,944,589 RT compared to last year.
Kiel-Canal records 2007
With almost 100m tons in 2007, a new record of transported cargo in tons became apparent. The exact amount of cargo transported on the Kiel-Canal in transit and section traffic was 99,600,730 tons.
Another record was the number of 43,231 vessels that navigated the canal last year. This number was last reached in 1995. An especially large increase of 5.7% could be recorded in transit traffic.
Despite changes in the classification in the course of 2007, the number of Class 4 and Class 6 vessels markedly increased.
Statistics November 2007 and outlook for December 2007
Until the end of November, a total of 39,623 vessels navigated the Kiel-Canal, with 3,780 vessels in November alone. For December 2007, a number of about 3,900 vessels is predicted. This means that we would surpass the total number of vessels that navigated the canal in 2006 (41,468) on December 15, 2007.
According to the forecast, the amount of transported cargo will rise to about 100 million tons until the end of the year. This would be the highest number ever reached in the history of the Kiel-Canal.
Statistics October 2007
Once more, this month brought a marked increase in the number of vessels on the Kiel-Canal. Until the end of October, 35,843 vessels navigated the canal – an increase of 18.1% compared to the same time last year, when a total of 35,843 vessels was recorded. .
This rise also affects the cargo quantity and the gross tonnage (RT). A total cargo quantity of 81,912,309 tons could be recorded so far this year; in 2006, the total cargo quantity was 77,006,405 (an increase of 4.8%). The total RT increased by 12.5% to 137,786,315 compared to October last year, when 122,437,752 RT were recorded.
Facilitation of traffic on the Kiel-Canal (October 2007)
The traffic on the Kiel-Canal continues to grow dynamically with regard to the number of vessels as well as the size of the vessels navigating the canal.
In order to handle current and future traffic, the encounter possibilities for Class 5 and 3 vessels as well as for Class 6 and 2 vessels were modified, and the maximum permissible breadth in relation to length of Class 4 vessels newly specified.
- Class 5 and 3 vessels may meet in the expanded section (water level 162m wide) of the Kiel-Canal if the maximum draught does not surpass 7.90m.
- Class 6 and 2 vessels do no longer fall under encounter restrictions in the expanded section of the Kiel-Canal.
- Class 4 vessels can have 50cm more breadth at same length.
- Furthermore, the class of vessels transporting certain dangerous goods in containers, as well as double hull crude oil vessels, is no longer upgraded.
These measures lead to a better flow of traffic and less stops in the switch points which always involve the risks of manoeuvring at close quarters.
Especially container-feeder vessels of the currently established class of 800 to 900 TEU capacity profit from the new Class 4 specifications.
The expanded encounter possibilities in the expanded section combines facilitations for Class 2 to 6 vessels.
Statistics September 2007
So far, a total of 32,193 vessels navigated the Kiel-Canal – an increase of 6.1% compared to last year. Furthermore, the registered tonnage of the vessels continues to increase. Compared to the previous year, the total registered tonnage (RT) of vessels that navigated the canal so far increased by 18.14% to 14,341,630 RT. This number also shows the increasing number of “large vessels”. An increase of Classes 4, 5 and 6 vessels by 11% could be recorded.
Statistics August 2007
A total of 3,556 vessels navigated the Kiel-Canal in August. This is an increase of 5.2% compared to August 2006. 2,797 vessels navigated the whole canal, 761 navigated only a section.
The number of passages increased by 10.73% compared to last year. Furthermore, we could record a marked increase in the registered tonnage (RT) of the vessels. The RO increased by 11.5% to 13,825,995 RT. The annually recurring downturn during the summer months was hardly noticeably this year.
How much traffic passes through the canal each year and how is the outlook for 2007?
In 2006, 42,000 vessels navigated the Kiel-Canal and transported 96 million tons of cargo. After the midyear results of 2007, a continuing increase of the traffic figures is registered. In the first half of the year, a total of 21,518 vessels transported 49,651,381 tons of cargo on the Kiel-Canal. This constitutes an increase of the traffic figures by 7.3% and of tons of transported cargo by 6.5% compared to last year. With a total of 95,780,633 tons, a doubling in the quantity of transported cargo in tons over the past 7 years was recorded at the end of 2006. With the increase in the quantity of transported cargo within the first 6 months of this year, it can be expected that at the end of this year, 100 million tons of cargo will have been transported on the Kiel-Canal for the first time in history.
Source: Water and Shipping Authorities Brunsbüttel and Kiel-Holtenau