The long-overdue repair of Wilhelmshaven's double lock is not only making headlines due to repeated breakdowns and obstructions for local businesses and the naval arsenal in the inner harbor, but is also representative of the neglected port infrastructure in many places on the north German coast. At the invitation of WHV e.V., talks were once again held on 18.10.2023 with representatives of the responsible institutions and the state and federal ministries in order to clarify the situation.

What has happened so far to solve the problem:

Since 2010, the fifth replacement lock gate has been lying on a pontoon on the Jachmann Bridge under a large cover for everyone to see. The contract to renovate and upgrade it to make the dyke one meter safer was awarded in 2018 and is currently expected to take until the end of 2024. As is usual with this type of work, additional defects that were only identified during the renovation measures have led to the multi-year extension of the construction period. When the gate is completed in the fall of 2024, it will have taken 6 years!

The failure of a further gate, namely the fourth, over a period of several months led to the critical situation that only one lock chamber was available.

This provisionally repaired fourth gate, which was floated back into place on 10.10.2023, will have to be placed on the pontoon for interim repairs when the renovation of the fifth gate is hopefully completed this year.

“This is the complicated connection,” explains Hans-Joachim Uhlendorf, Vice President of the Wilhelmshavener Hafenwirtschaftsvereinigung e.V. (WHV e.V.), ”which has led to operational disruptions of varying lengths. This has repeatedly tested the patience of lock users in the inner harbor, i.e. companies, the naval arsenal, recreational boaters, etc.”

WHV e.V. then invited the responsible authorities to a meeting on 18.10.2023 to seek clarification. The fact that this happened was already a success, as the owner of the lock is the Federal Ministry of Defense. The Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration Directorate General with the Federal Office of Infrastructure, Environmental Protection and Armed Forces Services, the Construction Management Competence Center in Hanover and the Weser Jade North Sea Waterways and Shipping Office on site are subordinately responsible for the maintenance and renovation. The many institutions involved already give an idea of the confusion of competencies - and in practice, unfortunately, it is proving to be the case!

On a positive note, it should be noted that everyone involved had only one goal in mind, namely problem-free lock operation in the long term. The following procedure was discussed and confirmed in a letter from the Ministry of Defense dated 28.06.2024:

1. All responsible institutions have a vested interest in the full functionality of the lock.
2. The intention is to restore the sea lock as quickly as possible so that both lock chambers can function in normal operation: Single-chamber operation is a temporary solution that should be avoided.
3. Following the suggestion of the Wilhelmshavener Hafenwirtschafts-Vereinigung e.V., three gates will be replaced with new ones rather than undergoing a lengthy refurbishment. This is the result of practical experience with gates four and five.
   Die Ausschreibung der drei Tore soll schnellstmöglich erfolgen.
   Nach dem jetzigen Zeitplan soll das erste neue Tor Ende 2029 zur Verfügung stehen und die weiteren Tore folgen bis Ende 2032.
4. A dock is to be procured for the proper maintenance and upkeep of the lock gates. The Ministry of Finance is to make the necessary budget funds available to the Ministry of Defense. The dry dock is required in addition to the planned dry dock for the naval arsenal.
5. The parties agree that everything will be done to speed up the entire renovation process and agree on a corresponding exchange between the Ministries of Defense and Transport and WHV e.V..

“Even if the long period of time until the lock is fully functional remains incomprehensible for WHV e.V., the constructive exchange and the joint will to find a solution on the part of all those involved is encouraging,” says Hans-Joachim Uhlendorf. “We will continue to pursue the goals we have set ourselves, particularly with a view to a possible acceleration.”

Further detailed information can be found on the WHV e.V. homepage, under the heading “Seeschleuse 4 . Entrance” we will keep you informed about further developments.