TRÈVES, Allemagne — July 4, 2025
A major lock failure on the German section of the Moselle River has brought commercial navigation to a halt since Wednesday evening, creating a serious bottleneck for barge traffic transporting agricultural and industrial goods to France and the Benelux region.
“We have over 30 vessels stuck and no transit expected before next week,” said Florian Brandt, spokesperson for the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration in Koblenz.
The affected stretch, between Koblenz and Trier, is one of the busiest inland waterway segments for bulk cargo, particularly rapeseed oil, grains, fertilizers and steel coils. The lock at Sankt Aldegund suffered a mechanical collapse, and divers are still working to assess the extent of the damage.
Key Impacts
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Barge operators rerouting via road and rail, creating a surge in last-minute trucking demand.
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Exporters in Saarland and Lorraine reporting shipment delays of up to five days.
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Spot freight rates on adjacent rail corridors have risen by 18% in 48 hours.
The Moselle is a critical trade artery feeding France’s Metz and Nancy hubs. Shipping associations warn the disruption may ripple into Belgian inland ports, already strained by Red Sea-related ocean freight diversions.
“Our intermodal terminals were already close to saturation,” said Émilie Joris, logistics manager at Port de Liège. “This adds another layer of stress we weren’t ready for.”
Repairs to the lock could take up to four weeks, depending on parts availability and underwater access.
