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New bucket dredger Gieselwerder” ceremoniously christened in Corvey harbor!
New project in Höxter: The bucket dredger “Gieselwerder” was officially named and replaces the old “Oberweser”.
New bucket dredger Gieselwerder” ceremoniously christened in Corvey harbor!
On June 27, 2025, a striking event was celebrated in the port of Höxter-Corvey: the ceremonial christening of the new bucket dredger “Gieselwerder”. This lively member of the Weser Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA) is a contemporary successor to the 40-year-old “Oberweser”, which is now being retired. Henning Buchholz, head of the WSA, led the ceremony and welcomed the numerous guests who attended the inauguration of the brand new excavator.
With an impressive length of 26 meters and a width of 9 meters, “Gieselwerder” impresses not only with its modern key data, but also with a price of 4.6 million euros. The ship is powered by two diesel engines, each with 355 hp. Particularly noteworthy is the shallow draft of just 85 cm, which is a decisive advantage given the often low water levels on the Weser.
Technical finesse and possible applications
The new bucket dredger is equipped with a fixed hydraulic excavator unit, allowing it to work within a radius of over 10 meters and dig up to 7.5 meters deep. These technical features not only guarantee high efficiency in dredging work, but also that large barges of up to 70 tons can be pushed without any problems. To secure the position during operation, the excavator has two stilts that provide a stable working platform.
As department head Michael Rabbe from the WSA emphasizes, the “Gieselwerder” secures dredging work on the Oberweser federal waterway for decades to come. When developing the ship, requirements such as maneuverability in narrow waters and an efficiently controlled dredging facility were taken into account, which makes this ship particularly suitable.
A piece of tradition
The name “Gieselwerder” is not only a technical label, but also a homage to the long tradition of the shipping town, where around 200 people used to be active in the shipping sector. Godmother Betina Rahn, who comes from Gieselwerder and worked for the Water and Shipping Association (WSV) for 30 years, carried out the traditional ship christening. Interestingly, the rules for baptism in the port of Corvey are clear: it must be performed by a woman who is neither red-haired nor wearing a green dress.
The Waterways and Shipping Authority, to which the “Gieselwerder” now belongs, is an important institution in Germany. With 17 WSA offices, it is responsible for managing federal waterways and regulating shipping traffic in the country. These authorities work comprehensively to maintain and safely operate waterways, including the maintenance of associated facilities such as locks and weirs. They also play an important role in promoting inland navigation and water safety.
The “Gieselwerder” will be ideally equipped to provide the Waterways and Shipping Authority with loyal service in the future and to support sustainable shipping on the Weser, so that there will be no waves on the waves in the future where it would be illegal.
For more information, please visit reports from HNA and WSA Weser, as well as an overview of the tasks of the Waterways and Shipping Office Wikipedia.