27th September
The Kiel Canal, also known as the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal (Emperor William’s Canal) until 1948, is a 98-kilometre long freshwater canal in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. The canal links the North Sea at Brunsbüttel to the Baltic Sea at Kiel-Holtenau or vice versa in our case. An average of 250 nautical miles (460 km) is saved by using the Kiel Canal instead of going around the Jutland Peninsula. Might have saved us some rough seas too.
Our ship just met maximums heightwise and sizewise for canal with mast folded down. All permanent, fixed bridges crossing the canal since its construction have a clearance of 42 m. Maximum length for ships passing the Kiel Canal is 235.50 metres (772.6 ft); with the maximum width of 32.50 metres (106.6 ft)
The canal is very tightly managed in terms of who goes where, when with strict rules about passing and speed and managed according to how ships are classified. Observed various manoevres as we travelled. At one point there were 8 ships in controlled positioning – 4 of us going one way and 4 the other.
Beautiful scenery to be seen as we glided along. Lots of farms, small towns, numerous ferries dashing back and forth across the canal between boats and people out enjoying the very treed countryside – walking dogs, fishing, biking, camping. For the farmers – Holstein Friesan country! Now sailing for Amsterdam.
Photos of the Kiel Canal transit.
