Serious concerns exist with respect to the accessibility of the lock for sea-going vessels. Especially wind effects appear to have a negative effect on access manoeuvres to the lock. The aim of the present project is to formulate recommendations with respect to limiting conditions and accepted procedures for safe access and exit manoeuvres for arriving and departing ships of different types, dimensions and loading conditions, and to provide input data for determining and optimising timing of access and departure manoeuvres.

The project is subdivided in two phases. Phase I contains consists of a desk and field study, resulting in a preliminary advise with respect to the possible procedure(s) and the development of a detailed project plan for studies for a ship manoeuvring simulator study. Phase II focuses on the execution of a ship manoeuvring simulator study resulting in final recommendations for accepted procedures for safe entry and exit manoeuvres and ship-related input data required for assessing and optimising locking cycles.