Tractebel expertise safeguards coast in the German state of Lower Saxony

The state of Lower Saxony is investing around €30 million to safeguard the coast at Otterndorf, in Cuxhaven district, where the existing Hadeln Sluice is to be replaced by a new structure. Tractebel’s hydraulic engineering specialists are providing support for the project – construction work on the new sluice started in April 2019.

The original Hadeln Sluice was built in 1854. It controls drainage water releases from the Hadeln Canal, as well as enabling use of the canal as an inland waterway. The existing arched tunnel structure, however, which incorporates a pair of mitre gates at the axis of the dyke, can no longer satisfy contemporary requirements. Following the raising of numerous dykes in response to continually rising sea levels, similar work is now needed in the Otterndorf area.

“The 165-year-old structure is about 90 centimetres too low to withstand extreme storm surges, and it is physically not possible to increase the height of the existing sluice structure any further. Hence it is necessary to construct a new sluice", explains Heiko Scholz, Executive Director of Tractebel Hydroprojekt.

Three year project schedule

Our specialists are applying their expertise under a contract with the Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Conservation Agency (NLWKN), working in an integrated team with INROS LACKNER SE. They are responsible for providing comprehensive design services for the steel structures and mechanical plant, as well as the planning of the electrical, measurement and control systems and equipment. Their services will be complete when the new sluice facility commences full operation, which is currently foreseen in 2022.

The commencement of the project was officially launched on 11 April by Lower Saxony’s Minister for the Environment, Energy, Building and Climate Protection, Olaf Lies, at the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony.

Heiko Scholz and Dr. Ulrich Kanzow, Managing Director of Tractebel Hydroprojekt, also attended this event together with the other organisations involved in the construction as well as numerous representatives of the town of Ottendorf.

Environment Minister Olaf Lies (4th from right), District Administrator Kai-Uwe Bielefeld (2nd from right) and NLWKN Director Anne Rickmeyer take up the spade.