Repeated confinements and restrictions have frozen the yachting activity on the Moselle. The Covid has also postponed certain works that Voies navigables de France (VNF) had planned, such as the refurbishment of the small lock. But for the past few days, there has been a stir on the side of the almost century-old structure.
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A little history
The iron mine canal was created in the 1930s. As its name suggests, it allows raw materials and finished products to be transported to the various iron and steel sites in the Moselle valley.
In the 1960s, the public authorities saw another interest in the Moselle river: the pipeline between Neuves-Maisons and Apach was in operation, in order to be able to accommodate large-gauge commercial convoys. In October 1968, the Robert-Schuman lock was inaugurated. The small lock from the beginning remains in place but its use is gradually abandoned for the sole benefit of its big sister.
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1.6 million euros of works
As in Thionville, other so-called small-gauge locks exist along the Moselle. Those of Talange, Metz and Richemont were restored between 2012 and 2014. There remained that of Thionville to complete the loop.
A budget of 1.653 M € is planned to rehabilitate the whole: replacement of doors and jacks, refurbishment of the cabin, installation of automated control equipment… The intervention is heavy. In its capacity as developer and promoter of the waterway, VNF regulates 67% of the bill. The Rhine Meuse Water Agency and the State finance the rest.
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2 million m³ saved
Since the early 1980s, leisure craft and commercial vessels have therefore used the same crossing point: the Schuman lock. A mastodon, each use of which requires 9,000m3 of water. That is ten times more than the airlock of the small lock. Knowing that a thousand boaters on average take the Thionville passage , The calculation is quickly done.
“Water savings represent a volume of 2 million cubic meters per year,” estimates Claude Thiebaut, an executive in the North East department at VNF. This economical management of water resources remains the main objective of the work undertaken by VNF, especially during drought episodes, which are now recurring. Aquatic environments will also be better off.
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Encourage river tourism
This is the other point to remember: with the reopening of the small lock, boaters will have a dedicated airlock. It will be less impressive than being in the hectic wake of a convoy of up to 150 meters. And then in summer, “during periods of low flow of the river, they will no longer have to wait sometimes up to an hour as at present”, indicates Claude Thiebaut.
By making it easier to cross the lock, we can only bet on more pleasure craft traffic. A good point for local tourism, with all the possible economic benefits that this implies.
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