Germany’s Mosel River Closed for Lock Repairs

The Mosel River in Germany will remain closed to cargo shipping in January despite the success of a temporary lock in freeing vessels trapped on the river after an accident. The temporary lock, which opened on Monday, has been more successful than expected, with 26 of the trapped vessels already freed. However, repairs to a damaged lock are set to begin in the new year, leading to a closure of the river for shipping. The federal transport ministry has indicated that normal shipping along the Mosel may resume in early February 2024.

The closure of the river, which is a key transit route for grains and rapeseed between Germany and France, has caused significant disruption to inland waterways shipping. The accident that damaged a lock at Mueden south of Koblenz led to the trapping of 74 river freighters. While repairs are expected to last until spring 2025, efforts are being made to free all trapped vessels by the end of December. Despite the success of the temporary lock in releasing vessels, the river will be closed to shipping once the last trapped vessels depart.

In response to the Mosel blockage, European rapeseed futures rose after trading platform Euronext announced the suspension of physical delivery to river ports in eastern France for the February contract. The closure of the river has highlighted the importance of efficient navigation and maintenance of key waterways for the transportation of goods between countries. Efforts are underway to expedite repairs to the damaged lock and resume normal shipping operations along the Mosel as soon as possible.

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