General

Nautical Information

Port Basins and Maximum Loaded Drafts

The center column in the table below lists current floor reference data and zero water levels for the port basins.

The maximum loaded draft should be at least 30cm less than the water depth. The approximate loaded drafts in the right column are based on this minimum clearance and referred to the Ruhrort water level. In cases where the actual draft approaches the maximum loaded draft, the allowed draft must be calculated using the port basin floor reference datum, the water level reading in Ruhrort, Duisburg or Hochfeld and the minimum clearance of 30cm.

The port basin floor reference data constitute the minimum depth of the basin which may however not be reached in the vicinity of sloped embankments.

 

Port Basin	Floor Reference Datum/Zero Water Levelm above mean sea level	Approximate Maximum Loaded Draft
a) Ruhrort zero water level	16.09 m	Ruhrort water level
Port mouth, Vinckekanal, Südhafen, Hafenkanal, Bunkerhafen, Basins A, B and C	15.40 m	+ 40 cm
Werfthafen	17.05 m	- 120 cm
b) Duisburg
Parallelhafen, Außenhafen	16.10 m	+ 40 cm
c) Hochfeld
Südhafen, Kultushafen	16.45 m	+ 40 cm
d) Rheinhausen
Rheinhausen Port	16.50 m	+0 cm
e) Kanalhafen Meiderich, Ruhrhafen Neuenkamp	as laid down in BinSchstrO, except for Wendehafen = 280 cm

Bridge Crossings

The table below contains data for the calculation of bridge clearances. They are referred to the Ruhrort water level and account for water level station differences as well as a certain safety margin.

In cases where the height of the ship approaches the bridge clearance, the exact clearance must be calculated using the altitude given for the bridge superstructure and the actual Ruhrort or Duisburg water level. It can alternatively be read from the bridge abutment markers.

 

Bridge	Low End of Bridge Su-perstructurem above sea level	Approximate Clearance Base Datum*
a) Ruhrort zero water level	16.09 m
Port Mouth Bridge	34.20 m	17.80 m
Vinckekanal Bridge	33.10 m	16.70 m
Hafenkanal Bridge	33.80 m	17.40 m
Basin C Bridge	38.20 m	21.80 m
b) Duisburg
Außenhafen Pipe Bridge	37.80 m	20.90 m
Außenhafen Road Bridge	37.00 m	20.10 m
c) Rheinhausen
Energie Bridge	38.00 m	20.75 m

*The Ruhrort water level must be deducted from the clearance base datum

Covered Terminals

The table below lists base data for the calculation of covered terminal clearances. The Ruhrort water level must be deducted from the data given,

Südhafen terminals, north km 2.6 and 2.9	17.68 m
Hafenkanal terminal, south, km 2.85	17.50 m
Basin C terminal, south 4.4	17.70 m
Basin C terminal, north 4.0	19.14 m
Parallelhafen terminal, south, km 0.7	19.20 m
Parallelhafen terminal, south, km 1.2	20.40 m
Außenhafen terminal, north, km 0.4	18.00 m
Außenhafen terminal, south, km 1.45	26.10 m
Parallelhafen terminal, north, km 0.5	17.00 m
Parallelhafen terminal, north, km 0.7	19.60 m
Vinckekanal terminal, turning area	20.30 m

Pusher Barge and Tow Barge Combinations

The maximum dimensions for combinations are as follows:

* subject to authorization by the Port Authority

• Combinations with a length of over 110m or a width of over 11.40m may only navigate the “other ports” if the ship moving the combination is equipped with a twin propeller or one ship of the combination is equipped with an operational bow thruster. Combinations with a length of over 110m or a width of over 11.40m which do not satisfy these requirements need an authorization of the Port Authority to navigate the “other ports”. The authorization may be temporary and impose conditions.
• Combinations must be moved, coupled and uncoupled in a manner which will exclude risks to other shipping and port operations and minimize interference.
• Barge combinations may not overtake other ships except for small boats.
• Barge combinations should not meet other barge combinations or ships with a length of over 80m in Hafenkanal between km 1.0 and km 2.5 (turning area) For this reason, the master of a barge combination must
  • announce the intention to navigate the canal several times on UHF Channel 10 and
  • wait outside the canal if it is likely that the barge combination will meet another combination or a long ship..
• If a barge combination nevertheless meets another barge combination or a ship of a length of over 80m in Hafenkanal, the master of the barge combination must take the action necessary to ensure that the ships will meet under conditions which will minimize risks. If necessary, the barge combination must stop at a suitable location and clear the shipping channel as far as possible.