Elbe ferry Tanja remains shut down after repairs due to low water

Elbe ferry Tanja remains shut down after repairs due to low water

Neu Darchau, Deutschland - The Elbe ferry "Tanja" remains stuck in the port of Lauenburg. This reports ndr . After extensive repairs caused by damage to the drives due to sand deposits, it cannot go back to the Elbe. The reason: the low water. Business manager Andreas Dau indicates that the ferry can only be used again in the event of rain soon.

It is only since mid -May 2025 the "Tanja" has been out of operation due to low water levels. With a current level of only 134 centimeters in the Elbe, the ferry is no longer a safe means of transport. The sandbars that block the route make a return to the usual routine impossible. Many residents and commuters have to prepare for longer detours, because the important federal roads B191 and B195 are currently fully blocked.

The situation in detail

like the Nordkurier last week, no vehicles over 12 tons were transported over the ferry last week. If you want to from Darchau to Neu Darchau, you will not be able to avoid looking for alternative routes. These circumstances in particular put a strain on students: inside the Bleckede high school who live on the other side of the Elbe.

The adjacent Elbe ferry "Amt Neuhaus" between Bleckede and Neu Bleckede offers a little relief. This ferry remains in operation, but is now experiencing increased frequency, which leads to longer waiting times for the users. The quiet and low -rainy weather of the next few days will not change anything in these circumstances, on the contrary: the forecasts indicate that the situation will not relax.

low water and its consequences

Current measurements that are to be carried out in the next week to examine the water quality in the Elbe are alarming. According to taz reports the level in Neu Darchau 83 cm, which is 37 cm below the middle low water. Such low water levels have only been undercut six times since 1874, with the previous low in 2019 being 61 cm. The persistent drought, including as a result of the dry year 2018 to 2020 and 2022, has also severely affected other rivers and lakes in Lower Saxony.

The situation requires urgent attention, since lower water levels and a low oxygen content pose a danger to aquatic life. Experts warn that the region has to deal with the low water levels and the associated environmental impact. An end to this drought is not in sight for the time being, so that not only the ferries, but also the habitats of many living things are endangered in the Elbe.