dimensions
length: 98.637 km
width at the waterline: 162 m (partly 102.5 m)
width at the bottom: 90 m (partly 44 m)
water depth: 11 m
locks
old locks
usable length: 125 m
usable width: 22 m
lock sill depth: in Brunsbüttel NN-10.20 m
in Kiel-Holtenau NN- 9.80 m
mitred lock gates: 2 ebb tide and 2 flood tide doors per chamber
filling: through 2 side channels each with 12 branch channels
lock transit time: 30 minutes
new locks
usable length: 310 m
usable width: 42 m
depth: NN-14.00 m
lift gates: each chamber 3 gates
the middle lock gate - which is also the reserve gate - makes it possible to transit the lock more quickly in a shortened chamber
filling: in Brunsbüttel by revolving lock gates
in Holtenau through 2 side channels each with 29 branch channels
lock transit time: 45 minutes