Continued progress on lock gate transports in Emden

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. With this, a phased and carefully engineered operation moves into its next stage.

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 (SPMT). The pontoon and SPMT teams from Wagenborg worked closely together to execute the manoeuvres. The second and third gates followed a similar set‑up as the inaugural operation last year, involving coordinated towage support, stability calculations and controlled movements on and around the pontoon.

A well prepared RORO operation

The installation of 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, a RORO method offers predictability and a safe transfer between shore and pontoon. The project requires a combination of disciplines: engineering, heavy transport, nautical experience and operational coordination. By aligning these components, the teams ensure the process remains steady and manageable, even when working with large and heavy structures like the locks each weighing about 2,500 tonnes. Project manager Michel de Jong: 

Operations like this depend on a decent preparation and controlled execution. Every step is calculated, but it still requires close cooperation on the quay, on the pontoon and on the water. When everyone understands each other’s role, the work unfolds exactly as intended.

The lock gates were rolled onto the Wagenborg Barge 11, a seagoing pontoon measuring 122m in length and 36,6m in width, under the expert coordination of Wagenborg’s heavy lift and towage transport teams. The tugboat Waterstraat provided safe and steady support, ensuring the pontoons’s secure positioning for the RORO operation.

Next step

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 towards their testing location in Eemshaven.