Lock accident still paralyses Luxembourg's shipping traffic
Pascal Bernardon, Unsplash
The recent accident at the Müden lock, located on the Moselle River, has caused a wide resonance in Europe. The Moselle is an important transport artery connecting France, Luxembourg and Germany to the Rhine. Following the incident, German authorities moved swiftly to remedy the consequences in order to minimise economic losses and reduce disruption to shipping.
A Luxembourg delegation led by the Minister of Mobilisation and Public Works visited the port of Merterte on 17 December 2024. During the visit, it was confirmed that the Government will mobilise resources to support companies affected by supply disruptions. A number of consultations have also been held with the German side to speed up the resumption of shipping.
According to the latest data, the restoration of the lock is scheduled for February 2025, which is one month earlier than expected. This was possible due to coordination between the countries and prompt work to replace damaged structures.
German authorities are investigating the causes of the accident. However, due to the peculiarities of national legislation, they are not automatically obliged to share the results with neighbouring countries. The damage assessment is currently ongoing and will only be finalised once the new sluice gates have been installed.
The legal side of the issue is regulated by the "Strasbourg Convention on Limitation of Liability in Inland Navigation" (CLNI). According to it, the possible limits of liability will be determined following an investigation. In the event that the fault of the public authorities is the cause, national law will apply.
The incident affected not only Germany, but also the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, whose companies actively use the Moselle for freight transport. However, it is impossible to assess the total damage without taking into account the duration of the disruptions in the operation of the lock. It is noteworthy that passenger ships from Luxembourg continue to operate as far as the border with Müden, and no restrictions have been imposed on excursion routes at this time.
Although the Müden lock accident occurred on German territory, its consequences are international in nature and demonstrate the need for closer co-operation between countries in the field of inland navigation. The forthcoming conclusions of the German authorities may affect shipping policy in the region and safety requirements on key waterways.
