Freight shipping on Mosel river in Germany blocked after accident 又撞闸了！德国摩泽尔河发生事故致船闸损坏 航运中断

Freight shipping on Mosel river in Germany blocked after accident

又撞闸了！德国摩泽尔河发生事故致船闸损坏 航运中断

HAMBURG (Reuters) -Freight shipping on the river Mosel in west Germany has been blocked to shipping after an accident involving a passenger ship that damaged a lock, authorities said on Thursday.

The river, known as the Moselle in France, is an important transit route for grains and rapeseed between Germany and France. Transit was halted after an accident on Wednesday damaged a lock at Sankt Aldegund between Koblenz and Trier, a police spokesperson said.

Vessels cannot pass the Sankt Aldegund lock in either direction, the spokesperson said.Technical experts on Thursday were examining the lock, and it is not yet possible to comment on the level of damage or say how long the impact on shipping will last, river navigation authority WSA said.German federal transport minister Patrick Schnieder said in a statement he will visit the accident site later on Thursday.“I will do everything in my power to ensure that the lock can resume operations as soon as possible,” Schnieder said.

汉堡（路透社）讯 德国西部当局7月3日（周四）表示，由于一艘客船发生事故损坏船闸，摩泽尔河（Mosel，法国境内称Moselle）的货运航运已被迫中断。

该河流是德国与法国之间谷物和油菜籽的重要运输通道。警方发言人表示，周三在圣阿尔德贡德（Sankt Aldegund）发生的事故导致一处船闸受损，航运因此暂停。发言人指出，目前船舶无法双向通过圣阿尔德贡德船闸。

德国联邦航道与航运管理局（WSA）表示，技术专家周四正在检查受损船闸，目前尚无法评估损坏程度，也无法确定航运中断将持续多久。德国联邦交通部长帕特里克·施尼德（Patrick Schnieder）在一份声明中表示，他将于周四晚些时候前往事故现场视察。施尼德强调：“我将竭尽全力确保船闸能尽快恢复运行。”

Notably, the Mosel River experienced a similar disruption in December due to a lock incident south of Koblenz in Mueden. Shipping only resumed in February following extensive repairs.

At that time, a cargo ship loaded with 15,000 tons of scrap metal, bound for Mertert port in Luxembourg, collided with a lock gate in Mueden. The ship failed to brake in time as the gate was still moving and had not fully opened. While no casualties occurred, the accident caused hydraulic oil leakage into the river and significant lock damage. The WSA estimated repairs would take until late March 2025, forcing a complete halt to Mosel River shipping. Approximately 70 vessels were stranded, with passage impossible for months.

值得注意的是，摩泽尔河去年12月也曾因科布伦茨南部米登（Mueden）一处船闸受损事故而关闭内河航运，经过长时间维修后直至今年2月才重新开放。

图源网络

据悉，当时一艘满载1.5万吨废铁、驶往卢森堡梅尔特尔特港（Mertert）的货船，在航行至德国科布伦茨南部的穆登（Mueden）附近时发生严重事故。该船在船闸尚未完全开启且仍在移动的过程中，未能及时制动，猛烈撞击闸门导致其两侧翼板脱落。事故还造成货船液压油泄漏至摩泽尔河中，所幸未造成人员伤亡，但货船自身也受损。

当时撞击对船闸造成了严重破坏。德国水道与航运管理局（WSA）评估后表示，修复工作预计将持续至2025年3月底。在此期间，摩泽尔河的内河航运被迫完全中断。这条作为卢森堡、萨尔州以及莱茵兰-普法尔茨州通往莱茵河关键水道（特别是特里尔至科布伦茨段）的航道被彻底阻断，导致约70艘船只被困河中，未来数月内将无法通行。

The Mosel River plays a vital role in Germany's transport system, especially for the transportation of grain, rapeseed and raw materials for the steel industry (such as scrap iron) . The shipping disruption has dealt a heavy blow to steel companies that rely on this waterway. The world's steel giants receive about 10% of their scrap supply through the Port of Mertert, and German steel mills are also extremely dependent on the river to transport raw materials. The sudden break in the logistics supply chain has forced related companies, such as Germany's large scrap recycling companies, to urgently turn to much more expensive road and rail transportation options.

摩泽尔河在德国运输体系中地位举足轻重，尤其是对谷物、油菜籽及钢铁行业原材料（如废铁）的运输至关重要。此次航运中断对依赖此航道的钢铁企业构成了沉重打击。世界钢铁巨头通过梅尔特尔特港接收约10%的废料供应，而德国的钢厂也极度依赖该河运输原料。物流供应链的突然断裂迫使相关企业，如德国大型废料回收公司，紧急转向成本高昂得多的公路和铁路运输方案。

The impact of the accident has spread to the scrap steel market. German scrap steel suppliers reported that in the originally weak market environment, coupled with the reduction in demand from steel manufacturers due to supply chain problems, scrap steel purchase prices have fallen by 5 to 20 euros per ton. Industry experts warned that if the shipping disruption continues for a long time, it may trigger a raw material shortage crisis in the region, which may lead to a sharp rebound in scrap steel prices in the later period.

The concrete structure and drive mechanism of the lock were not damaged in the accident. Technicians are currently evaluating whether it is possible to resume limited lock operation to allow waiting ships to pass. " If not, we will look for other solutions, " said Allmann, " such as the use of emergency locks with temporary water control barriers, which have proven effective during previous winter shipping disruptions. " Allmann firmly stated: " Despite the accident, we are determined to ensure that shipping on the Mosel does not come to a complete standstill. "

事故的影响已波及废钢市场。德国废钢供应商反映，在原本疲软的市场环境下，叠加钢铁制造商因供应链问题而减少需求，废钢采购价格已应声下跌5至20欧元/吨。行业专家警告，如果航运中断局面长期持续，恐将引发该地区原材料短缺危机，进而可能导致废钢价格在后期出现大幅反弹上涨。

本次事故中船闸的混凝土结构和驱动装置未受损坏。技术人员目前正在评估是否有可能恢复有限的船闸运行，以便让等候的船舶通过。“如果不行，我们将寻求其他解决方案，” 奥尔曼说，“例如使用配备临时水控屏障的应急船闸，此类方案在之前的冬季航运中断期间已被证明行之有效。”奥尔曼坚定地表示：“尽管发生事故，但我们有决心确保摩泽尔河的航运不会完全停滞。”

Mosel River

摩泽尔河

As an important international shipping waterway in Europe, the strategic significance of the Mosel River far exceeds that of ordinary inland rivers. The Mosel River is an important channel for transporting grain and rapeseed between Germany and France . A large number of ships traveling to and from the French port of Metz transport goods through the river . Every year, a large amount of bulk commodities such as coal, steel, ore, and agricultural products are transported through the Mosel River , which provides important logistics support for the industrial and agricultural development of Europe.

The Mosel River flows through France, Luxembourg and Germany, connecting several industrial centers in Europe and promoting trade and economic cooperation between regions. Compared with road and rail transportation, inland waterway transportation has the advantages of low transportation costs and large transportation volume . Shipping on the Mosel River can effectively reduce the cost of freight transportation and improve transportation efficiency, which is of great significance for reducing the logistics costs of enterprises and enhancing the competitiveness of the regional economy. Shipping activities on the Mosel River have driven the economic prosperity of the coastal areas, provided convenient transportation conditions for local trade, industry, manufacturing and other industries, created a large number of employment opportunities, and promoted the coordinated development of the regional economy.

摩泽尔河作为欧洲重要的国际航运水道，其战略意义远超一般内河。摩泽尔河是德国与法国之间运输谷物和油菜籽的重要通道，大量往返法国梅斯港的船只通过该河流运输货物。每年都有大量的煤炭、钢铁、矿石、农产品等大宗商品通过摩泽尔河运输，它为欧洲的工业和农业发展提供了重要的物流支持。

摩泽尔河流经法国、卢森堡和德国，连接了欧洲的多个工业中心，促进了区域间的贸易往来和经济合作。内河航运相比公路和铁路运输，具有运输成本低、运量大的优势。摩泽尔河的航运能够有效降低货物运输的费用，提高运输效率，对于降低企业的物流成本、增强区域经济的竞争力具有重要意义。摩泽尔河的航运活动带动了沿岸地区的经济繁荣，为当地的贸易、工业、制造业等行业提供了便利的运输条件，创造了大量的就业机会，推动了区域经济的协同发展。

In terms of energy transportation, the Mosel River can also play a certain role, providing support for some energy projects that rely on water transportation, helping to ensure energy supply and allocation within Europe.

Europe's inland water transport is quite developed, and after shipping containers are unloaded at coastal ports, some will be transferred to the interior of Europe by barge. The confluence of the Mosel and Rhine rivers is located near the city of Trier in southwestern Germany, where the right bank of the Rhine receives water from the Mosel. The Mosel and Rhine rivers are connected, forming an important inland waterway, allowing goods to be transported freely between the Mosel and Rhine rivers, further improving Germany's inland waterway efficiency and logistics capabilities. However, current tariffs, low water levels in inland rivers, and lock collision accidents may further aggravate the congestion of Nordic ports.

在能源运输方面，摩泽尔河也能发挥一定的作用，为一些依赖水运的能源项目提供支持，有助于保障欧洲内部的能源供应和调配。

欧洲的内河水运相当发达，而在海运集装箱在沿海港口卸下后，一部分将通过驳船转运至欧洲内陆。摩泽尔河与莱茵河的交汇位于德国西南部的特里尔市附近，这里的莱茵河右岸接纳了摩泽尔河的来水。摩泽尔河与莱茵河相连，构成了一个重要的内河航运通道，使货物能够在摩泽尔河和莱茵河之间自由运输，进一步提高了德国的内河航运效率和物流能力。然而目前关税、内河低水位、撞闸事故恐进一步加剧北欧港口拥堵情况。

Worsening Port Congestion

加剧港口拥堵

Currently, freight shipping on the Mosel River has been disrupted, and the spring dryness has caused the river water to be abnormally shallow. Barge loading on the Rhine River has been restricted , and the situation in Nordic ports may be further aggravated.

目前，摩泽尔河货运航运中断，再叠加春季干涸导致河水异常浅，莱茵河上的驳船装载受到限制，北欧港口恐进一步加剧。

Due to the ongoing heat wave, the water level in key sections of the Rhine River has dropped significantly, seriously hindering commodity shipping and pushing up logistics costs. Traders pointed out on June 30 that low water levels have limited the transportation capacity of the river section south of Duisburg to Cologne. At Kaub, the shallowest and narrowest " throat point " of the Rhine , cargo ships can only load about 50% of the cargo; in the Duisburg and Cologne sections, the loading capacity has dropped to 40%-50%.

As the core transportation artery for Europe's grain, minerals, coal and oil products (including winter heating fuel), the blocked waterway has forced shipping companies to impose surcharges to make up for the loss of capacity. Shippers are facing double cost pressures: not only do they have to pay additional freight, but they also need to deploy more ships to share the single ship's cargo - the cargo that was originally shipped on one ship now needs to be dismantled and transported by multiple ships.

More seriously, parts of Germany (including the Rhine River basin) are expected to be hit by another extreme heat wave of 40°C this week, and water levels are unlikely to rise and may fall further. This has caused market concerns about a repeat of the summer drought in 2022, when low water levels caused supply chain disruptions and production stagnation in Germany. Analysts warn that port congestion and transportation delays may continue until at least August, coupled with peak season demand, and the cost of cargo delivery will continue to rise.

受持续热浪影响，莱茵河关键河段水位显著下滑，严重阻碍大宗商品航运并推高物流成本。贸易商于6月30日指出，低水位状况已限制杜伊斯堡（Duisburg）至科隆（Cologne）以南河段的运输能力。在莱茵河最浅窄的“咽喉点”考布（Kaub），货船仅能装载约50%的货物；而在杜伊斯堡与科隆段，装载量更是降至40%-50%。

作为欧洲谷物、矿产、煤炭及石油产品（包括冬季供暖燃油）的核心运输动脉，航道受阻迫使航运公司征收附加费以弥补运力损失。货主则面临双重成本压力：既要支付额外运费，又需调配更多船只分担单船运量——原本一艘船的货物如今需拆解由多艘运输。

更严峻的是，德国部分地区（包括莱茵河流域）本周预计再遭40℃极端热浪侵袭，水位回升无望且恐进一步下降。此情引发市场对2022年夏季干旱重演的担忧，当年低水位曾导致德国供应链中断与生产停滞。分析师警告，叠加旺季需求，港口拥堵与运输延误可能持续至至少8月，货物交付成本将持续攀升。

E- PORTS urgent reminder : In view of the current congestion in European ports, shipowners about to go to Europe must pay close attention to the port congestion dynamics and make preparations in advance to minimize the risk of potential losses.

E-PORTS provides comprehensive services for European ports. If you need to know more about the latest congestion situation in European ports, you can contact us through the following methods:

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Email：contact@e - ports.com

E-PORTS紧急提醒: 鉴于目前欧洲港口的拥堵状况，即将前往欧洲的船东，务必密切关注港口拥堵动态，提前做好应对准备，以尽可能降低潜在损失风险。

E-PORTS为欧洲港口提供全面服务，如需了解更多欧洲港口最新拥堵情况，可通过以下方式联系：WhatsApp/WeChat：13816101982
Email：contact@e - ports.com