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Elbe ferry Tanja remains shut down after repairs due to low water
Due to low water levels, the Elbe ferry “Tanja” between Neu Darchau and Amt Neuhaus remains out of service and the effects are noticeable.
Elbe ferry Tanja remains shut down after repairs due to low water
The Elbe ferry “Tanja” remains stuck in the port of Lauenburg. This reports NDR. However, after extensive repairs caused by damage to the drives due to sand deposits, she cannot return to the Elbe. The reason: the low water. Operations manager Andreas Dau states that the ferry can only be used again if it rains soon.
The “Tanja” has only been out of operation since mid-May 2025 due to low water levels. With a current water level of only 134 centimeters in the Elbe, the ferry is no longer a safe means of transport. The sand banks that block the channel make it impossible to return to the usual routine. Many residents and commuters have to prepare for longer detours because the important federal highways B191 and B195 are currently completely closed.
The situation in detail
Again Northern Courier reported that no vehicles over 12 tonnes were transported via the ferry in the last week. If you want to get from Darchau to Neu Darchau, you won't be able to avoid looking for alternative routes. These circumstances are particularly stressful for students at 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. Although this ferry remains in operation, it is now experiencing increased frequency, which leads to longer waiting times for users. The calm and low-precipitation weather of the next few days will not change these circumstances, on the contrary: the forecasts indicate that the situation will not ease.
Low water and its consequences
Current measurements that are to be carried out next week by a special measurement program to examine water quality in the Elbe are alarming. Loud taz The water level in Neu Darchau is 83 cm, which is 37 cm below the mean low water level. Such low water levels have only been fallen below six times since 1874, with the previous lowest value being 61 cm in 2019. The ongoing drought, partly as a result of the dry years 2018 to 2020 and 2022, has also severely affected other rivers and lakes in Lower Saxony.
The situation requires urgent attention as lower water levels and low oxygen levels pose a threat to aquatic life. Experts warn that the region is struggling with low water levels and the associated environmental impacts. There is currently no end to this drought in sight, so not only the ferries but also the habitats of many living creatures in the Elbe are at risk.