The Rhine–Herne Canal is a 45.6 km transportation canal in the Ruhr area of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with five canal locks. The canal was built over a period of eight years (5 April 1906 – 14 July 1914) and connects the harbour in Duisburg on the Rhine (51.44972°N, 6.76694°W) with the Dortmund-Ems Canal near Henrichenburg (51.61694°N, 7.32194°W), following the valley of the Emscher. It was widened in the 1980s. The Rhein-Herne canal ship was designed specifically for this canal; normally of about 1300–1350 ton capacity, it has a maximum draft of 2.50 m, a length of approximately 80 m, and maximum beam of 9.50 m. Originally the Rhine-Herne canal ended in Herne, where it met a branch of the Dortmund-Ems-Kanal running from Henrichenburg to Herne, the intersection situated just above the East Herne lock. After the closure of the last part of the Henrichenburg to Herne canal, the Henrichenburg-Herne section of the Dortmund-Ems was added to the Rhein-Herne Canal.

Water system

The distribution of water in the canal is realised through five pump stations. Located at Duisburg-Meiderich, Oberhausen, Gelsenkirchen, Wanne-Eickel and East Herne, they pump water from the Rhine into the canal at each stage. As well as this, water from the Lippe river to the east is brought in through the Datteln-Hamm Canal.

Locks

Duisburg-Meiderich sluicegate

In 1980 the current sluicegate was completed, including a 24 m under-gate and control platform, which has now become a visible yellow landmark in the Ruhr landscape. The intended harbour of the old lock is today underwater and part of the foundations of the canal walls. This harbour was meant to be a possible spot for the eventual significant reconstruction of the lock, but it was never used for this purpose. A possible reconstruction of the sluice gate was commissioned in 1914 with the canal opening. Instead of the old sluice of 165 m in length and 10 m in breadth a new sluice chamber with a usable length of 190 m and a breadth of 12 m were commissioned, so that bigger ships with lighters (barges) as specified in Euro class II can pass through the sluice gates.

<!--Possible future construction of the lock was taken into consideration when the canal was opened in 1914. Instead of the old 165 m long and 10 m wide lock, the new lock has a length of 190 m and a width of 12 m, in order that the today's air-lock was finished placed to air-lock Duisburg avoiding Erich, whose 24 m high untertor with the control stand a far away visible yellow landmark sets in the port and Ruhr landscape. The outer port of the old air-lock is to be recognized today still in the underwater by the masonry of the channel walls. As reserve place for a possibly necessary new building of the air-lock it is not filled. The building of predecessors of the today's air-lock was taken with the channel opening 1914 in enterprise. In place of the old 165 m are enough and 10 m broad air-lock has the new chamber of a lock a usable length of 190 m and for width of 12 m, so that also large thrust federations with lighters of the European class II can pass the air-lock. The stroke depends on the Rhein water level. With appropriate flood of the Rhein the water level can be even higher rheinwaerts than in the channel, so that into the channel to mountain, but to valley must be channeled not as usual. The air-lock does not have an own pumping plant, but the pumps in the harbor basin C of the Ruhrorter of port provide for back pumps of the water into the channel. The air-lock can be served by a person. Here at the beginning of the channel is the collection point for the use fees, which become retract and extending ships registered. About 25000 ships with altogether 15 million tons of freight happened to 1996 avoid Erich ago the air-lock. Channel upper living [ work on ] former air-lock meal Dellwig [ work on ] air-lock gel churches the air-lock of gel churches consists of two parts: A connection direction the east, a direction the west port Grimberg [ work on ] port Grimberg, in the background pit William of the bill Pluto in HerneDer port Grimberg is because of the southern channel bank in gel churches, close of the city boundary to Herne. It was designated after the close lock Grimberg, from which today only admits the foundation walls are. It predominantly served for the landing of ore for the supply of the iron and steel plants in Bochum and gel churches. Here the ore course (Bochum) began. With the quiet putting of the metallurgical plants it lost its original function. Today it serves building material and recycling enterprises for the treatment and shipment of their products. -- -- --- [ work on ] air-lock tub Eickel [ work on ] former air-lock Herne west the former air-lock Herne west was replaced with the renewal of the lock installation Herne east with. In addition the channel in the section became Herne west – Herne east around 4.5 m deepens. The old air-lock was not sufficient for the modern ships and thrust federations in length and width any longer. The built volumes were obsolete and damaged by mountain lowerings substantially. In the course of the distance of the air-locks the outside walls of both chambers of a lock were received. In particular at the southern wall the measures are to be recognized for the reconciliation of the mountain lowerings still clearly. The chamber wall had to be increased at the western end by 80 cm, at the eastern end, however, by 3.5 m. This is to be recognized in the panorama picture by the difference between brickwork and reinforced concrete increase. This air-lock stands on the sec. and US jump. When planning of the channel was well-known, one went out however of the fact that straight mountain lowerings would not take place here, since within the jump range (and air-lock safety columns) no hard coal should be diminished. The southern wall of the former southern chamber of a lock --- [ work on ] operating port that water and navigation administration [ work on ] air-lock Herne east the lock installation Herne east became in the years 1986–1992 renews. The new chambers of a lock are in each case 190 m long and 12 m broad. The Drempeltiefe (depth of water at the upper gate) amounts to 4 m. to the upper water forms a turning segment gate the conclusion. Stemmtore lock the chamber to the underwater. The difference between upper and underwater amounts to 12.8 m. An air-lock course needs approximately 14 minutes – retracting and driving out extending of the ships not counted. The two chambers of a lock are so connected that the water running off can be used chamber for filling up the others, until resembling and occurred. The second half water in the underwater is discharged, the other one, half-full chamber is then filled from the upper water. The water consumption for each air-lock course is in this way halved. Since a channel is a standing waters and no river, the loss of water of the upper water must become when channeling complex by Zurueckpumpen again balanced. To the pictures in the gallery: The left picture shows the lock installation from the underwater, the outer port, which is used by waiting ships, the lock installation with the two lower gates and the control stand, which resemble a Flughafentower. The chambers are constructions from reinforced concrete with a Verklinkerung of the opinion side. The gate of the southern chamber is opened. The driving out motor ship Carina comes from Decin into Tschechien. The water level difference in the chamber can be measured at the damp alga vegetation of the left chamber wall (12,8m). At the upper contour the bridge of the Horsthauser road over the channel. On the bank right several anglers, who use the fish wealth within the range of the lock installation gladly. The picture of the upper water shows the southern chamber left with the upper gate. The northern chamber (right) is opened to the exit. To open this gate is sunk around one closely above the Drempels lying axle against the upper water. The retracting and extending the ships are regulated over traffic light devices. The schleusenmeister can operate by remote control the entire plant alone, since at all important points television cameras are installed. In the chamber right: Motor ship Aurora before the exit. The third picture shows the chamber opened to the upper water after exit of the second ship of the observed air-lock course - motor ship Bydgoszcz from Poland. The right picture shows the channel process to the west, in front the outer port, the road bridge, then a corn mill and their siloanlagen on Recklinghaeuser area, mentioned above, left of it and approx. 5 km removes the hard coal power station of the STEAG in the local part Herne Baukau. Both channel banks are gesaeumt by fastened ways, which are frequently used by pedestrians and cyclists. Channel Herne east Channel Herne east, upper water Channel Herne east, chamber of a lock Channel Herne east, view on the underwater [ work on ] port of the bill Friedrich the great [ work on ] port of the bill king Ludwig [ work on ] port Victor [ work on ] port Ruettgers [ work on ] port Luck [ work on ] port Marmorit [ work on ] outer port of the old hebewerks [ work on ] freight on the Rhein Herne channel coal of ores mineral oil chemical products scrap iron of building materials food [ work on ] of fish in the Rhein Herne channel rare: Hecht and Regenbogenforelle of European Aal, carps and Zander Friedfi: Braces, red eyes and red feathers/springs [ work on ] of cities at the Rhein Herne channel Duisburg upper living meal Bottrop gel churches Herne Recklinghausen Castrop Rauxel Waltrop (inlet into the Dortmund Ems channel) datteln (Dortmund Ems channel) [ work on ] links http://www.dtg eg.de/ki_rhein_herne_kanal.htm the RHK on water and navigation velvet Duisburg Meiderich.de photo of the Rhein Herne channel, air-locks and ports at the Rhein Herne channel folding federal water ways in Germany Berlin splinter duration navigation channel Of "http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhein Herne channel" categories: Channel in Germany|Herne|Rhein|route of the industrial culture-->

Ports

Duisburg

The canal begins in Duisburg along with the Schifffahrtskanal; connected to land by three bays of the Kanalhafen, and to the rest of the world via the Rhine. The Rhine–Herne Canal headquarters is in the Meiderich district of Duisburg, it serves as the water and shipping management canal and its locks from Essen to Herne. From here maintenance and repair work are organised and performed.

Oberhausen marina

The Oberhausen marina is a yacht port opened in 2004 in close proximity to the CentrO shopping centre. The port has a water depth of 2.5 m and over 13 bridges. Also at the Oberhausen marina are the attractions Sealife Oberhausen and Oberhausen Modellbahn World.

City port of Essen

The Stadthafen Essen (City port of Essen) is the youngest port on the Rhine–Herne Canal opened in 1934 by the city of Essen, and operated since 1987 by Stadtwerke Essen. The port consists of a doubled sided canal side quay together with a harbour port at right angles onto the canal, which together form a water area of 63000 m2 with associated dock-land of 300000 m2 The dock handles bulk goods such as solid mineral fuels, petroleum and chemical products, stone, earth and iron and steel as well as recyclable materials, and is an important transhipment point.

City port of Gelsenkirchen

The port of the city of Gelsenkirchen (Stadthafen Gelsenkirchen) was opened in July 1914 and is the oldest port on the Rhine–Herne Canal. The port has two docks branched from the canal situated just east of the lock at Gelsenkirchen and has a water surface of 117800 m2. The industrial port is ~900 by and the trading port ~500 by. A private railway of length 18.4 km is operated which is linked to the tracks of the Deutsche Bahn Formerly the port dealt mainly with coal and mining products, now the port is a major hub for petroleum products and second-largest inland port for cereals in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is operated by the Gelsenkirchener Logistik-, Hafen- und Servicegesellschaft (Gelsenkirchener logistics, harbour and service company.) a subsidiary of Stadtwerke Gelsenkirchen.

Port Grimberg

Hafen Grimberg (Port Grimberg) is on the south canal bank in Gelsenkirchen, near the city boundary to Herne. It was named after the nearby Castle Grimberg, of which today only the foundations remain. Built in 1914 by the Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks AG (GBAG) to provide a link to the GBAG mines of Rheinelbe, Alma and Pluto as well as supplying the ironworks of 'Schalker group' with imported ore. Around the same time, and up to 1929 the industrial railway of Erzbahn was built, serving the Schalker and Bochum group iron and steelworks. Between 1937 and 1968 Grimberg harbour was one of the major ports on the canal. In 1968 steel production at the southern end of the Erzbahn at Bochum ended, in 1982 the Schalker works closed - with this the use of the port for transport of iron ore ended. Such was the emphasis on iron ore that much of the port now stands empty, part of it nowadays is used for the processing of recycled materials for the building industry, as well as a storage facility.

Ports Wanne west and Wanne east

Like many other the port of Westhafen Wanne (Wanne west harbour) was originally built for the mutual benefit of the mines and canal, with a railway connecting the two. Today the quayside still has coal traffic and associated industries. The docks of the port at Wanner West were filled in to make room for the Güterverkehrszentrum Emscher - a logistics (road, rail and river) centre working in association with other companies. The Wanne-Herner Eisenbahn und Hafen GmbH (WHE) operates both the remaining canal side docks and the associated railway. The Osthafen Wanne (Port Wanne east) are also operated by the WHE; the ports and rail link serves a major scrap metal works.

City port of Recklinghausen

Originally the city of Recklinghausen had no access to the canal; through an exchange of land with the city of Herne the city gained access to the canal. In recent decades, the port was abandoned. However through the actions of the company 'United Mills' grain shipments were made using a mobile crane. Since late 2007, the port has expanded and a grain loading plant installed: new mills and silos have been installed.

Port of the Frederick the Great mine

The Hafen der Zeche Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great mine port) is directly south of the Port of the King Ludwig mine, as of 2009 the port is the site of an industrial estate named the Industriegebeit Friedrich der Große. The harbour which is cut parallel to the canal is still extant, but without fixed infrastructure, cranes etc.

Port of the King Ludwig mine

The Hafen der Zeche König Ludwig served the coal transported from, and deliveries to the former King Ludwig mine. It is located at kilometer 38 of the canal, just upstream of the Herne Ost lock, on the north bank opposite the Hafen der Zeche Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great mine port). The 1.7 acre harbor basin was built from 1897 to 1898 when the section of the canal (the then branch channel of the Dortmund-Ems Canal), was already flooded. In 1912, at the colliery port handled 360,096 tonnes of goods. In 1913 the docks expanded. Because of mining subsidence by 1954 the quaywall had to be increased by 2.50 m. In the 1980s, it was leased to Automobil- und Motorbootsport-Club Castrop-Rauxel e. V (The car and motorboat club of Castrop-Rauxel) and is used from recreational boating, being no longer used by Ruhrkohle AG, and contains many small boats. The former mine railway, which starts at the harbour is now a walking and biking trail.

Port Victor

The Victor Harbor (Hafen Victor) was created to serve the former colliery 'Victor' which finished all operations in 1973. The port is in the city of Castrop-Rauxel in the vicinity of Schloss Bladenhorst (Castle 'Blade Horst'), about 2 km upstream from the Hafen der Zeche Friedrich der Große also on the south bank. Today the port still handles coal with the help of two gantry cranes.

Port Rütgers

Port Rütgers (**Hafen Rütgers **) is the port of Rütgers Chemicals (founded by Julius Rütgers) and is about 500 m upstream of the Port Victor on the east side of the canal after the canal makes a slight bend to the north. The main product dealt with here is pitch obtained from coal tar from the refining of coal. The port has a Pneumatic barrier.

Port Luck

Port Luck (Hafen Luck) belongs to the construction and building materials company Luck located on the east bank, a little more than 2 kilometres upstream of Rütgers Chemicals.

Port Marmorit

Port Marmorit (Hafen Marmorit) is the port of cement and lime mortar manufacturer and distributor Marmorit Knauf GmbH located north of a disused canal side channel and just north of the bridge carrying Wartburgstraße (Wartburgstreet). The actual facility consists of little more than a pier.

Waltrop lock park

Here after 45.6 km ends (or begins) the Rhine–Herne Canal, which meets the Dortmund-Ems canal (at the 14.7-kilometre mark) near the old Henrichenburg boat lift (replaced in 1962 by a newer lock, and in 1989 by a new larger lock). The terminal is used as a mooring for pleasure craft. It forms part of the Waltrop lock park.

Ecosystem

Fish that inhabit the canal include European eel, European carp, zander, carp bream, common roach and common rudd, as well as the less common pike and rainbow trout.

Cities

References and notes