Cuxhaven (Germany) - Juetland (Danmark)
Entry Date: 13.09.2026, at 14:15:00 hrs (UTC)
From the Elbe into the Kiel Canal
| PRID: | 13403 |
|---|---|
| LegID: | 373 |
| LegNo: | 115 |
| Latitude: | N053°53.54' |
| Longitude: | E009°08.84' |
| Day#: | 1770 |
| Log (Day): | 16 nm |
| Log (Leg): | 16 nm |
| Log (Total): | 89411 nm |
The canal was opened in 1895 and was originally known as the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal. Today, it remains one of Europe’s most important waterways. By providing a direct link between the North Sea and the Baltic, it saves ships the long journey around Denmark and the Jutland Peninsula – roughly 250 to 300 nautical miles, depending on the route.
Together with the tanker Maike, we are waiting in one of the four large lock chambers at Brunsbüttel. Then the gates open, and shortly afterwards we enter the canal, an impressive artificial waterway around 150 metres wide and 11 metres deep.
A fascinating passage lies ahead of us: some 98 kilometres of canal, lined with bridges and ferries and carrying a constant flow of commercial traffic. Vessels of up to 235 metres in length are permitted to transit this important waterway.
For us, this marks the beginning of an exciting journey across Schleswig-Holstein from the Elbe towards the Baltic Sea.
