Persistent frost allows icebreakers to set sail - Germany deploys icebreakers as canals freeze under record cold snap
Freezing temperatures have forced authorities to deploy icebreakers on key German waterways. The Mittelland Canal and the Elbe-Havel Canal now require assistance as ice thickens. Many vessels, lacking an 'ice class' rating, struggle to navigate without support.
The icebreaker Stier, with 600 horsepower, was sent to break ice measuring three centimetres thick. Two more icebreakers are already in operation, while another pair remains on standby. Officials anticipate thicker ice—up to eight centimetres—due to ongoing subfreezing conditions.
Marcel Bremer, from the Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsamt Elbe in Niegripp near Magdeburg, confirmed the readiness of additional vessels. The Hohenwarthe Trough Bridge, stretching nearly a kilometre over the Elbe, is also being kept clear of ice. Temperatures are set to plummet further, with nighttime lows of minus 13 degrees Celsius expected by the weekend. The cold snap shows no signs of easing, prompting continued icebreaking efforts.
Icebreakers will remain active as conditions worsen. Thicker ice and dropping temperatures could disrupt shipping further. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely to ensure waterways stay passable.
