Facts & Figures
All data concerns the Moselle between Koblenz and Neuves-Maisons.
Information on the waterway
Source: Col de Bussang (in the Vosges)
Confluence: at Koblenz, where it flows into the Rhine
Total length: 394 km (245 miles)
Difference in elevation: 161 m (528 ft)
Number of dams: 28 (10 in Germany, 2 in Germany/Luxembourg condominium,16 in France)
Depth of navigation channel: 3 m (9.8 ft) under water level after structural improvements
Width of navigation channel: minimum 40 m (131 ft)
Loaded draft: 2.80 m (9.2 ft)
Narrowest curve radius: 350 m (1,148 ft) at the “Bremmer Bogen”
Minimum clearance under bridges: 6 m (19 ft) at highest navigable water level
Drainage basin: 28,000 m² (33,488 sq yds)
Waterway class: Vb
Main tributaries: Meurthe, Seille, Madon, Orne, Sauer, Saar
Ports: Trier, Mertert, Metz, Thionville-Illange, Frouard
Locks
Usable width: 12 m (39 ft)
Usable length: minimum 172 m (564 ft)
Chamber dimensions of the second smaller locks:
Koblenz: 122.5 m x 12 m (401 ft x 39 ft)
Thionville, Richemont, Talange & Metz: 40.5 m x 6 m (132 ft x 19 ft)
Dimension of boat locks: Length: 18 m (59 ft), width: 3.5 m (11.5 ft), depth: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Permitted ships and barge trains
Individual ships: up to 110 m (360 ft) in length and 11.45 m (37.5 ft) in width (as of 1 January 2010 individual ships that are up to 135 m [442 ft] long may be permitted to navigate without a special permit under certain conditions).
Pushed barge trains with up to two pushed barges: Overall length of up to 172.1 m (564 ft) and up to 11.45 m (37.5 ft) in width.
Towed barge trains: up to 250 m (820 ft) overall length and 11.45 m (37.5 ft) in width.
Amount of drainage
| Above the mouth | Below the mouth |
---|---|---|
Lowest | 4 m³/s | 21 m³/s |
Median drainage | 162 m³/s | 320 m³/s |
Drainage at highest | 800 m³/s | 1420 m³/s |
Highest high water | 2290 m³/s | 3930 m³/s |
Traffic data 2017: goods transit
Koblenz lock: 10.8 million tonnes (1965: 4.6 million tonnes)
Grevenmacher lock: 5.3 million tonnes (1966: 4.2 million tonnes)
Apach lock: 4.9 million tonnes (1965: 3.2 milllion tonnes)
Copyright © 2009 - The Moselle Commission‘s Administrative Office, Trier | legal information