This week, another step was taken in the transport of the new lock gates for the port infrastructure project in Brunsbüttel. Following the first controlled RoRo operation in 2025, the second and third gates have now also been driven onto a pontoon in the port of Emden.
The operations took place in Emden, where the steel lock gates, built in the region and prepared for onward transport, were transferred from the quay to a pontoon using 136 axle lines of self-propelled modular trailers. The pontoon and SPMT teams from Wagenborg worked closely together during the manoeuvres.
The second and third gates followed a similar set-up to the inaugural operation last year, involving coordinated towage support, stability calculations and controlled movements on and around the pontoon.
The installation of the new lock gates is part of a broader renewal of the lock infrastructure in Brunsbüttel. Due to the dimensions and weight of the gates, as well as the limited manoeuvring space in the port, the RoRo method offers predictability and a safe transfer between shore and pontoon.
The project requires a combination of engineering, heavy transport, nautical experience and operational coordination. By aligning these elements, the teams keep the process steady and manageable when working with the lock gates, each weighing about 2,500 tonnes.
Michel de Jong, project manager, said the work depends on proper preparation and controlled execution. He said every step is calculated, while close cooperation is required on the quay, on the pontoon and on the water.
The lock gates were rolled onto Wagenborg Barge 11, a seagoing pontoon measuring 122 m in length and 36.6 m in width, under the coordination of Wagenborg’s heavy lift and towage transport teams. Tugboat Waterstraat supported the secure positioning of the pontoon during the RoRo operation.
With both gates now safely on the pontoon, preparations can begin for the next phase of transport and installation. In the coming period, sea fastening will follow before the lock gates are moved to Eemshaven for testing.
