Disruption cripples North Baltic Canal, causing significant repercussions
The Kiel Canal, a major shipping route connecting the North Sea to the Baltic Sea, has been closed since Monday evening due to a strike by the union Verdi. The strike, aimed at pressuring wage negotiations in the public sector, has caused disruption and potential economic damage to the shipping industry and related businesses.
According to Jan Klein, managing director of the brokerage UCA United Canal Agency, the closure results in a loss of income for around 70 to 80 ships per day. One of the last ships to pass through the canal before the strike was Maersk Line's container ship "Laura Maersk," and its return journey to Bremerhaven has been cancelled due to the closure.
The economic damage from the strike is estimated to be millions, with more than 3000 jobs depending on the Kiel Canal. A study by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) in 2021 estimated a "prosperity loss" of over 1.5 million euros per day the canal is closed.
Traffic management is not necessary for the dredging ships in the Kiel Canal, as the expansion work continues. However, ships are not allowed to enter the canal in Brunsbüttel or Holtenau. Ships that can't use the Kiel Canal are forced to travel around Skagen, which may lead to increased emissions of climate-damaging CO2.
The strike is further damaging the image of the Kiel Canal, according to Jens-Broder Knudsen of the initiative Kiel Canal. Klaus Peter Molter, chairman of the association of canal pilots, stated that the strike is affecting his colleagues who guide large ships through the canal.
Union official Schischefsky calls on Verdi members at brokers and canal pilots to go on solidarity strike for strike pay. However, canal pilot Molter states that strike pay does not make up for the losses they would have had with normal operations.
Jörg Brockmann, spokesperson for the Waterways and Shipping Office North-Ostsee-Kanal, states that the expansion work is ongoing. The traffic control center in Brunsbüttel, where nautical officers monitor the canal, is now staffed with employees, making strike calls more effective.
As of late July 2025, there are no specific or detailed search results addressing the current impact and economic damage of the Verdi union's strike at the Kiel Canal on the shipping industry and related businesses. Further updates from specialized maritime news sources or industry reports would be needed for precise data. The corvette "Emden," known for a sabotage attempt, passed through the Kiel Canal earlier than planned on Monday night, before the strike.
- The disruption caused by the Verdi union's strike on the Kiel Canal is causing potential economic damage to the science of economics, as the closure of such a major shipping route has far-reaching effects on the industry, finance, and related businesses.
- The closure of the Kiel Canal has been a topic of general news, with discussions surrounding the estimated millions in economic damage and the impact on work-place wellness due to job losses in excess of 3,000.
- The strike has not only caused a substantial loss of income for ships passing through the Kiel Canal but has also led to increased emissions of climate-damaging CO2, as ships are forced to travel around Skagen.
- Policy and legislation have been brought into question as a result of the strike, with debate on the adequacy of current policy in managing labor disputes and their potential impact on transportation infrastructure.
- The strike has caused tension in both the shipping industry and the community, as it affects not only the financial sector but also crime and justice, with union officials calling for solidarity strikes, and canal pilots voicing concerns about strike pay.
- Interestingly, the "Emden," known for a previous sabotage attempt, passed through the Kiel Canal before the strike, providing a stark contrast to the current situation involving war and conflicts represented by the strike.
- In the domain of politics, discussions and negotiations are ongoing regarding the ongoing strike, with the Waterways and Shipping Office North-Ostsee-Kanal issuing updates and addressing the impact on transportation.
- As for the future, with no recent industry reports or maritime news sources providing specific data, further research is needed to assess the precise long-term impact of the Verdi union's strike on the shipping industry and related businesses.
