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

24.04.2024

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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]