Große Seeschleuse to have EUR 100 million upgrade
The historic Great Sea Lock will be refurbished with a Steelpaint protective coating system
(Source: Andreas Burmann/NPorts)
Emden’s 112-year-old Great Sea Lock (Große Seeschleuse), a maritime gateway from the North Sea to the River Ems, is to have a structural upgrade and new coating systems in a EUR 100 million contract awarded by the Lower Saxony Port Authority (Niedersachsen Ports). It will include raising the lock gates by two metres to provide more protection.
The structure, which provides flood protection, will remain in use during the upgrade which, as a result, will take about a decade to complete. On completion, it is intended to ensure the smooth operation of the lock for the next 35 years.
It will involve the installation of new reinforcements for stronger flood defence, the construction of new transformer stations, a reserve gate, and a cable pull system. Kitzingen-based Steelpaint GmbH will supply a coating system to cover a surface area of about 50,000m2 which will include a 75µm sacrificial zinc-based primer to protect the underlying steel from sea water.
Two or three coats of Steelpaint's proprietary Stelpant-PU-Combination 300 polyurethane coating will then be applied, with a 150µm to 225µm dry film thickness. Some areas will also be coated with an additional UV-resistant semi-gloss topcoat of 80µm.
Niedersachsen Ports Emden’s Wilfried Schleusener, responsible for operating systems, commented: “The Emden lock project is one of the largest hydraulic engineering initiatives currently underway in Germany. By elevating the lock gates and reinforcing the surrounding infrastructure, we can future-proof this vital infrastructure against the effects of climate change and rising sea levels. We are confident that Steelpaint’s innovative coatings will help keep the Emden lock operational for generations to come."
Frank Muller, Steelpaint’s Sales director, commented: “We are privileged to have been selected by Niedersachsen Ports to play a key role in this landmark infrastructure project. Our proven track record in delivering high quality, durable protective coating solutions for maritime applications made us the ideal partners for this critical undertaking.”
The 860-tonne lock gates are 42m wide, 20m high, with a draught of 7m.
