APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R00020011022-9
from 13.6 by 18.4 feet to 75 by 85 feet but are sufficiently uniform on individual routes to accommodate the largest craft normally plying the open channels. Locking cycles range from 15 minutes to more than 2 hours, and lifts vary from 1.7 feet to 118 feet. Single- and parallel-chamber arrangements are most common.
The Rothensee shiplift on the Mittelland Kanal near Magdeburg and the Niederlinens shiplift on the Oder-Havel Kanal near Eberswalde, the most unusual locking installations in the country, facilitate navigation on primary access routes to Berlin. Each can raise and lower 1,000-ton vessels in a 280-foot long trough having a usable width of six feet and a normal water depth of 8.2 feet. One-way passage requires 20 to 25 minutes, the lifts are 49 feet (Rothensee) and 113 feet (Niederlinens).
The known 300 bridge crossings are fixed-span structures, and none impose underbridge clearance restrictions for craft normally operating. Small dams, weirs, sluices, and pumping facilities are positioned throughout the waterways, although no one facility is of major importance, collectively they have a great stabilizing effect, particularly on the Elbe to Oder waterways.
Inland ports are mechanized to a fairly high degree for bulk-commodity handling. Slightly over 40% of the principal berthage serves industrial plants or municipal facilities. Noteworthy features of the ports are numerous artificial basins, concrete and masonry quays, the use of mobile equipment to supplement fixed shore facilities, direct quayside rail and/or road clearances, and extensive open storage. Greater Berlin is an outstanding complex comprising two primary West Berlin facilities (Sudhafen and Westhafen), one primary East German facility (Rummelsburg-Osthafen), and 51 other port facilities (39 in West Berlin and 12 in East Berlin), most of which are industrial. Other significant East German inland ports are Magdeburg, Riesa, and Dresden on the Elbe, Potsdam on the Elbe-Havel Kanal, Eisenhuettenstadt on the Oder-Spree-Kanal, Halle on the Saade-Urstend waterway, and Frankfurt on the Oder. Of only slightly less significance are 13 other East German inland ports. The Greater Berlin complex has 40% of the total berthing available in all ports.
In 1971 the East German inland-cargo fleet had a carrying capacity of 650,000 short tons and consisted of about 1,870 units, 1,600 dumb and 270 self-propelled barges. Estimated total motive power was 270,000 h.p., half of which was provided by 267 tugs, 152 pushes, and 113 conventional units. Efforts to standardize the fleet and increase its capability emphasize continued serial production of 400- to 445-ton pusher dumb-barges, and 200- to 600 h.p. pusher tugs as well as continued conversion of 660-ton dumb barges to 500-ton/300-h.p. self-propelled units capable of moving up to two dumb units. East Germany is working toward standardizing vessel design and operation in Europe by coordinating vessel specifications set by CEMA for Eastern European Communist countries and those set by agreements of the Ministers for Transport in Western Europe for Western European waterway vessels. Within East Germany, eight major shipyards and at least 52 secondary yards are responsible for building and repairing units of the fleet standardization of craft. Serial production, and use of prefabricated units have increased the capability of the yards, which not only fulfill East German requirements but export a considerably number of their new units.
The Ministry for Transport administers inland waterways through its State Secretariat for Shipping. The secretariat operates through two subordinate agencies, the Main Administration for Waterways and the state-owned German Inland Waters Shipping Company (DBR). The Main Administration for Waterways is responsible for operating, constructing and maintaining the East German waterways and those within West Berlin; this is accomplished mainly through regional and local offices. The DRB handles nearly all East German waterway shipping. A negligible volume of domestic cargo is moved by a few private operators, most of whom are under highly restrictive DBR charter. Domestic passenger operations are performed solely by the state-owned White Fleet (Weisse Flotte).
Development of waterway transport has had a relatively low priority. However, some improvement and modernization of the fleet and waterway facilities has been achieved, for example, the development of pusher operations throughout the network and the enlargement of the important lock at Brandenburg on the Elbe-Havel waterway (Figure 6), installation of closed-circuit television at locks continued, as does engagement, and modernization of nearly all major ports, especially the industrial facilities at Magdeburg and Eisenhuettenstadt. A container terminal under construction of Riesa was partially operational by the end of 1972. Long-range development plans include straightening the Oder-Spree Kanal, improving regulation of the canals, and construction of a direct connection between the Mittelland Kanal and the Elbe-Havel waterway by means of an aqueduct over the Elbe and a shiplift at Hohenwarthe. The long-range goals of East German inland-waterway
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R00020011022-9
