The Elbe Side Canal has shaped the region between the Elbe and the Mittelland Canal for 50 years. As a major transport and waterway, it connects the Port of Hamburg with the hinterland and, at the same time, plays a significant role in water management, infrastructure and regional development.
For Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, the canal is also of interest from an academic perspective. Topics such as hydraulic engineering, hydrology, climate adaptation and sustainable transport systems form part of the research and teaching areas of Prof. Dr Klaus Röttcher, Head of the Institute for Sustainable Irrigation and Water Management in Rural Areas (INBW). In this interview, he explains why the Elbe Side Canal continues to play a key role today and what challenges the waterway will face in the future.
Marie Ruhm, Ostfalia editorial team: What significance did the Elbe Side Canal have at the time in terms of water management and transport?
Prof. Dr Klaus Röttcher: The Elbe Side Canal was of great importance to inland waterway transport and the Port of Hamburg right from the start. One key reason is that the Elbe is regulated at only a few points and its water level depends heavily on outflow. As a result, it is not always reliably navigable.
Added to this was the division of Germany at the time: parts of the Elbe lay on the inner-German border or within East German territory. The canal therefore created a secure waterway link in western Germany and strengthened connections towards the Mittelland Canal and the Ruhr region. The canal also gave rise to new port locations in Uelzen and Wittingen. Only Lüneburg already had a historic port, which had previously been used primarily for the transport of salt. The Elbe Side Canal connected these locations to the German inland waterway network.
Which of the original planning objectives were achieved, and what developments have taken a different course?
Prof. Dr Klaus Röttcher: The Elbe Side Canal has established itself as a key transport corridor between the Port of Hamburg and the hinterland. This meant that a key objective was achieved.
However, the expected growth in freight traffic has fallen short of forecasts. Although at times over 10 million tonnes were transported annually, the current volume stands at around 5 million tonnes. Reasons for this include the decline in coal-fired power generation, as well as temporary restrictions due to construction and renovation work.
At the same time, container traffic on the Elbe Side Canal is becoming increasingly important. However, this development is only partially apparent when looking at the tonnage transported and is therefore often underestimated.
Sustainability and inland waterway transport – do they go together?
Prof. Dr Klaus Röttcher: In practice, fully balanced sustainability is rarely achieved in any sector. Inland waterway transport, however, comes close to achieving it in many areas.
A large cargo vessel can replace over 100 lorries and transports goods with comparatively low energy consumption and a high level of safety. At the same time, inland waterway transport is an important part of modern logistics chains, particularly in conjunction with seaports such as Hamburg.
Did you know?
Issues relating to hydraulic engineering, flood protection, hydrology and climate adaptation are integral parts of the degree programmes and research at Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Water and Soil, on the Suderburg campus. The Elbe Side Canal provides an exciting practical example of this right on our doorstep.
Looking ahead
Prof. Dr Klaus Röttcher: The Elbe Side Canal illustrates very well just how closely engineering, water management and transport are interlinked. It is a high-performance system that has functioned reliably for decades and has repeatedly adapted to new requirements.
At the same time, it is clear that such infrastructure must be continuously developed – whether in response to climate change, shifts in freight flows or new technical possibilities. The canal thus remains a good example of how waterways today are not only transport routes but also key components of water management.
About the expert
Prof. Dr Klaus Röttcher teaches at Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences in the fields of river basin management, flood risk management, hydraulic engineering for transport and global change. He is also Head of the Institute for Sustainable Irrigation and Water Management in Rural Areas (INBW). His work focuses, amongst other things, on the impacts of climate change on water bodies and the landscape, as well as on water management infrastructure.
