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
of the Sauer
Below the mouth
of the Saar
Lowest
low water drainage
4 m³/s
05.07.1976
21 m³/s
03.07.1976
Median drainage
period
162 m³/s
1931-2007
320 m³/s
1931-2007
Drainage at highest
navigable water level
800 m³/s1420 m³/s
Highest high water
drainage after
structural improvement
of the Moselle
2290 m³/s
12.04.1983
3930 m³/s
21.12.1993

Traffic data 2022: goods transit

Koblenz lock: 8,8 million tonnes (1965: 4.6 million tonnes)
Grevenmacher lock: 4,9 million tonnes (1966: 4.2 million tonnes)
Apach lock: 4,7 million tonnes (1965: 3.2 milllion tonnes)

News

01.02.2024

New recommendation of the European Commission on means to address the impact of automation and digitalisation on the transport workforce

On 29 November 2023, the European Commission (EC) adopted a recommendation on means to address the impact of automation and digitalisation on the transport workforce which is ad [...more]

26.10.2022

Survey of De Vlaamse Waterweg nv regarding remote operation

The Belgian waterway operator De Vlaamse Waterweg nv has launched a short survey among the users of the Belgian inland waterway network regarding the planned remote ope [...more]

24.10.2022

New EuRIS portal online

As of now, all inland waterway users can use a new European information portal called EuRIS to plan their voyage.

On a single platform EuRIS combines all waterway and [...more]

09.07.2020

Film about the Moselle now available in English

In 2019, the Luxembourg Ministry of Mobility and Public Works published a film (in German) which presents the inland waterway Moselle and its infrastructure in the join [...more]