A ship has hit a lock gate of the Haveltersluis. Due to the incident, other ships cannot use the lock in the Drentsche Hoofdvaart for the time being.
The lock is an important link in the shipping connection between Meppel and Assen. According to a spokesperson for the province, the problem arose this afternoon during locking. This is the process by which the water level in the lock is adjusted.
“The ship came too close to the lock door. The door has been dislocated, so it will have to be lifted,” the spokesperson said. The ship also suffered some damage.
Due to the blockage, shipping traffic will have to wait for the time being. According to the province, this concerns a limited number of ships. “But the situation is of course very annoying. We are also dealing with the blockage of the Norger Bridge,” the spokesperson refers to the problems with the sheet pile wall along the Norgervaart.
“Many people will want to use the water these sunny Pentecost days. Then this is a new setback. It is an annoying situation.”
The province is having the damage mapped out. Exactly how long the blockage will last depends on the severity of the damage to the lock gate.
However, there is optimism that the disruption will be short-lived. “We are hopeful that the lock can be put back into use tomorrow,” the spokesperson said.
The N371, between Havelte and Meppel, is closed to traffic due to repair work. A crane was moved to the lock to remove the lock door.
