APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R00020011022-9
Hamburg, West Germany, and via the Oder to Szczecin (Stettin), Poland. the waterways, waterway facilities, and inland fleet are adequate in extent and condition for normal requirements.
The integrated inland-waterway network is regulated, canalized, or otherwise improved throughout. Regulated streams account for 44% of the total major-route navigability, and the remainder is divided among land-cut canals (26%), canalized streams (29%), and other waterway types (1%). Primary regulation is provided by dams, weirs, and pumping stations and is supplemented by channel-control works such as levers, groins, and discs. The less important waterway routes are generally natural streams, partially improved by the use of channel-control works.
The principal cargoes shipped are ores, metals and scrap; sand, stone, and other construction materials; finished and semifinished metal goods; petroleum products; and grain. Other shipments include chemicals and chemical products, sugar and other foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, manufactures, and general cargo. The density and volume of east-west traffic substantially exceeds that of north-south. Large amounts of cargo are moved annually to, from, and through the pivotal Berlin complex, the largest volume being carried on waterways in and westward of the city. In 1972, East German carriers handled 15.2 million short tons and generated 1.3 billion ton-miles. In addition, about 6 million short tons, 90% of which is consumer, industrial, and stockpile goods, are shipped annually by West German carrier, from the Federal Republic in West Berlin. Since 1961 the yearly volume of passenger traffic has remained steady at about 2 million.
FIGURE 5. A 475-horsepower pusher tug and three 445-ton barges operating on the Berlin waterways (U/OU)
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Waterway operations are performed largely by 400- to 900-ton self-propelled barges and dumb barges of 350- to 1,000-ton capacity. Since 1964 pusher operations have gradually absorbed the greater portion of traffic. About 50% of all tonnage carried by East German operators is transported in 400- to 445-ton pushed barges (Figure 5). Most of the Greater Berlin waterways are navigable to 650- to 1,000-ton vessels, restrictive lock dimensions on routes extending eastward limit these passages to 650- to 750-ton vessels. To the west of Berlin the Saale-Urstrat waterway is seasonally and sectionally navigable by 200- to 600-ton craft, all other major waterways accommodate 750- to 1,000-ton craft. The lack of uniform depths on the major north-south routes frequently necessitates seasonal light loading, especially on the Elbe where vessel payloads may be reduced to below 50% of design capacity. Excluding the Elbe and the Oder, fixed structures on the waterways generally limit tug-and-barge operations to in-line formations of two to four barges towed astern or pushed. On the Oder and Elbe, the pushed tugs operate with three and seven barges, respectively. Use of push towing has been expanded in order to reduce the high rate of idle vessel time and the difficulty of maneuvering stem tows on some routes and to alleviate the shortage of skilled bargemen. Operations are enabled by a good system of shore-based and floating navigation aids, traffic-control lights at locking facilities, and an extensive radio and telephone waterway communication network.
The principal traffic interruption factors are adverse low- and high-water conditions, ice, and to a lesser extend, fog. Annually, operation days lost average 45 on the Oder and 17.5 to 25 days on other major waterways. On most waterways a reduction in level can usually be remedied by releasing impounded waters. Operations continue through short periods of drift and thin ice, and most main routes are kept open by icebreakers and icebreaker tugs. Allied shipping to and from West Berlin is periodically interrupted or brought to a standstill by military training exercises and calculated East German-Soviet harassment measures.
Structures on the major waterways consist of locks, shiplifts, safety gates, aqueducts, bridges, and regulatory works. The greatest concentration is on routes to Berlin and to the west of the city. Distributed among 15 waterways, including seven installations on the Berlin network are 38 locks. The locks vary in size
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R00020011022-9
