Posted on November 12, 2025
The eastern part of the Kiel Canal is being widened. The last time this was done was in imperial times. Now the first section has been completed – with more space for large ships.
The expansion of the eastern section of the Kiel Canal is a mammoth project – and urgently needed to maintain the efficiency of this important link and make the waterway fit for the economic and strategic challenges of the future.
More space for large ships
The first construction section east of Kiel in the area of canal kilometres 80 to 85 has now been opened to traffic by the Federal Minister of Transport after five years of work. The expansion concept envisages a widened canal bed of at least 70 metres and fewer tight bends to make it easier for larger ships to pass. The aim is to avoid dodging and waiting. Now that work on the first section has been completed, the second is being prepared. A total of six sections are planned.
Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder: “The expansion is a real tour de force because we have to ensure the functionality of the canal at the same time. The federal government spends more than 200 million euros every year on replacement and new construction measures on the NOK alone. That is money well spent. Because what we invest today will make the canal efficient tomorrow – for the economy, safety and climate protection.”
Last extension in 1914
In 2024, almost 25,000 ships passed through the NOK. The freight volume amounted to around 75 million tonnes. While the western section of the route had already been extensively expanded by 2001, the eastern section still had the dimensions of the last expansion in 1914.
In addition to its economic importance, the NOK is also becoming increasingly important in terms of security policy. Current political developments and the war in Ukraine have further strengthened the role of the Kiel Canal as a central link for military and logistical transport in northern Europe.
