First expansion phase of the Kiel Canal nears completion

Dredging in the first expansion phase of the Kiel Canal in Germany is nearing completion.

The eastern section of the canal is progressing significantly, with the first phase of dredging almost finished. Our backhoe dredger ‘Peter the Great’ has removed nearly 1.1 million cubic metres of soil, pictured here as Maersk’s green methanol vessel ‘Laura Maersk’ passes by. 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.

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.