Redesign of the Lock Island as a storm surge protection for the 5th lock chamber in Brünsbuttel area

Abstract

Shipping has been up to now one of the largest carriers of freight throughout history. In relation to this, maritime shipping routes are defined thoroughly so as to reduce as much as possible transport costs. Especially in German NOK (Nord- Ostsee Kanal) waterway has been for more than 100 years one of the most important navigated waterways of Europe becoming the second gate to the Baltic Sea. NOK, over 98,64 km long, connects Brunsbüttel in Elbe estuary at North Sea with Kiel at Baltic Sea cutting across the Danish Jutland. Its importance lies mainly in its time-savings respect the traditional route around Skaw being NOK clearly a more efficient and direct way between North and Baltic Sea reducing this route by approximately 460 km. Today NOK has become the basis for the trade between the countries of Baltic area with the rest of the world. Therefore, in the last decades NOK has allowed developing all the growing commerce flux efficiently becoming progressively its traffic greater and now it has to be capable to be competitive in the immediately future. The traffic capacity is limited mainly by the gates to access to the waterway. Two systems with two locks each one (Old and New Brunsbüttel locks) are in operation up to now. Due to a cost-benefit analysis, service offered has to be improved, especially when the maintenance of locks has to be carried out. Then, choosing from many alternatives, Traffic, Construction and Urban development Ministry (BMVBS) opted for constructing a 5th chamber over an existent island which separates now the old and new locks. Mentioned lock island works now as a dike protection against storm surges, as a breakwater against waves coming from North Sea and as a place for necessary equipments like a traffic control center as well. Due to the construction of the new 5th chamber over there, the lock island has to be redesigned so as to perform and even improve all the corresponding technical and functional requirements.