Information on the waterway
Source: Col de Bussang (in the Vosges)
Confluence: at Koblenz, where it flows into the Rhine
Total length: 394 km (245 miles)
Difference in elevation: 161 m (528 ft)
Number of dams: 28 (10 in Germany, 2 in Germany/Luxembourg condominium,16 in France)
Depth of navigation channel: 3 m (9.8 ft) under water level after structural improvements
Width of navigation channel: minimum 40 m (131 ft)
Loaded draft: 2.80 m (9.2 ft)
Narrowest curve radius: 350 m (1,148 ft) at the “Bremmer Bogen”
Minimum clearance under bridges: 6 m (19 ft) at highest navigable water level
Drainage basin: 28,000 m² (33,488 sq yds)
Waterway class: Vb
Main tributaries: Meurthe, Seille, Madon, Orne, Sauer, Saar
Ports: Trier, Mertert, Metz, Thionville-Illange, Frouard
Locks
Usable width: 12 m (39 ft)
Usable length: minimum 172 m (564 ft)
Chamber dimensions of the second smaller locks:
Koblenz: 122.5 m x 12 m (401 ft x 39 ft)
Thionville, Richemont, Talange & Metz: 40.5 m x 6 m (132 ft x 19 ft)
Dimension of boat locks: Length: 18 m (59 ft), width: 3.5 m (11.5 ft), depth: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Permitted ships and barge trains
Individual ships: up to 110 m (360 ft) in length and 11.45 m (37.5 ft) in width (as of 1 January 2010 individual ships that are up to 135 m [442 ft] long may be permitted to navigate without a special permit under certain conditions).
Pushed barge trains with up to two pushed barges: Overall length of up to 172.1 m (564 ft) and up to 11.45 m (37.5 ft) in width.
Towed barge trains: up to 250 m (820 ft) overall length and 11.45 m (37.5 ft) in width.
Amount of drainage
Above the mouth of the Sauer | Below the mouth of the Saar | |
---|---|---|
Lowest low water drainage | 4 m³/s 05.07.1976 | 21 m³/s 03.07.1976 |
Median drainage period | 162 m³/s 1931-2007 | 320 m³/s 1931-2007 |
Drainage at highest navigable water level | 800 m³/s | 1420 m³/s |
Highest high water drainage after structural improvement of the Moselle | 2290 m³/s 12.04.1983 | 3930 m³/s 21.12.1993 |
Copyright © 2021 - The Moselle Commission‘s Administrative Office, Trier | legal information
News
Survey of De Vlaamse Waterweg nv regarding remote operation
The Belgian waterway operator De Vlaamse Waterweg nv has launched a short survey among the users of the Belgian inland waterway network regarding the planned remote ope [...more]
New EuRIS portal online
As of now, all inland waterway users can use a new European information portal called EuRIS to plan their voyage.
On a single platform EuRIS combines all waterway and [...more]
Film about the Moselle now available in English
In 2019, the Luxembourg Ministry of Mobility and Public Works published a film (in German) which presents the inland waterway Moselle and its infrastructure in the join [...more]
Stability guide for inland navigation vessels carrying containers available
The Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR) has published a practical guide on stability during container transport. You will find more information[...more]