The port of Hamburg covers an area along the Elbe as well as over the Elbe canals and various islands on the River Elbe. Nothing would be possible here without bridges. A total of 133 bridges link the islands on the Elbe.
HPA is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all these bridges. The rehabilitation and construction of bridges is also our responsibility. Unencumbered travel is our long-term goal: the bridges are an important part of the port infrastructure. By preserving and modernising them, we ensure port's continuing grow.
Some of our bridges have to do a bit more. These special bridge constructions are opened as required to enable larger ships to navigate the Elbe unimpeded.
The various bascule, lifting and rolling bridges are regularly checked and maintained by our bridge masters.
Moving bridges and locks in the port of Hamburg
Are you interested in our moving bridges and locks? All the detailed information on their locations and operating times can be found here:
| Operating time | Daily 4 times |
|---|---|
| Opening time | Daily at 5:30, 12:30, 17:00 and 00:00. |
| Notification | Registration for service within the operating hours must be made 30 minutes before the opening request. Special openings take place 24/7 only after registration with the Nautical Center. USW radio channel 13; Name: Kattwyk Bridge; or on +49 40 42847-7088 |
| Operating time | Monday to Friday 6:00 to 22:00 (means till 21:00) - Saturday and Sunday 6:00 – 18:00 |
|---|---|
| Opening time | Operation of the lock takes place on advance request at the Este Lock. A request for the opening within the operating time must be made at least one hour before the desired opening time; for the opening outside of operating time, at least one hour before the end of operating time. Due to maintenance measures at the outer Este Lock, it will be closed for one hour on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The gates will be closed from a water level of approx. NHN +1.0m in order to carry out the rinsing cycle up to a water level of approx. NHN 0.10m. |
| Notification | USW radio channel 10; Name: Este Lock; or on +49 40 42847-7011 |
| Operating time | Mon.–Sat. from 6:00 to 22:00 (except bank holidays) |
|---|---|
| Opening time | On request according to § 24 (2) of the Port Traffic Regulations. Opening for small ships only at high tide; when opened for oceangoing ships, small ships may also pass. From 01.11.2022 Opening times for inland waterway and small boat trips Mon-Sat 06:15, 13:30, 20:30 by prior arrangement. (30min before opening request) Openings for shipping are possible at any time after prior notification. (Inland waterway and small shipping can also pass) Openings outside of operating hours (exclusively sea shipping) must be registered on weekdays till 9:00 p.m. Openings on Sundays and public holidays are available to small and inland shipping only at high tide. Registration for this is possible until 9:00 p.m. the day before (weekdays). Special openings take place after consultation with the nautical center. |
| Notification | USW radio channel 13; Name: Rethe Bridge; or on +49 40 42847-4885 |
| Operating time | Mon.– Fri. from 6:00 to 14:00 (except bank holidays) |
|---|---|
| Opening time | The request for operation within the opening time must be made one hour before the desired opening time. The request for operation outside the opening time must be made at least one hour before the end of operating time. Mondays to Fridays, the bridge may not be opened from 7:00 to 7:30 and from 16:15 to 17:15, as rush hour traffic flows over the bridge at these times. |
| Notification | USW radio channel 13; Via: Rethe Bridge; or on +49 40 42847 4885 |
| Operating time | The bridge is not continually staffed. |
|---|---|
| Opening time | Standard opening time: 10:00, 14:00, 18:00 – only on request! Requests must be made 4 hours in advance. Requests are possible Monday to Friday between 7:00 and 14:30, before bank holidays or weekends up to 12.30. Special rules apply to events. Requests can be made with LSBG to andrea.lender@lsbg.hamburg.de. |
| Notification | USW radio channel 13; Name: Harburg Lock; or on +49 40 42847-4851 |
| Operating time | The bridge is not continually staffed. |
|---|---|
| Opening time | Standard opening time: 10:00, 14:00, 18:00 – only on request! Requests must be made 4 hours in advance. Requests are possible Monday to Friday between 7:00 and 14:30, before bank holidays or weekends up to 12.30. Special rules apply to events. Requests can be made with LSBG to andrea.lender@lsbg.hamburg.de. |
| Notification | USW radio channel 13; Name: Harburg Lock; or on +49 40 42847-4851 |
| Operating time | The bridge is not continually staffed. |
|---|---|
| Opening time | Expected to resume in February 2023 at the following times: Mondays: 10:00, 14:00, 18:00 (see registration procedure below) Tuesdays - Fridays: 10:00, 14:00, 18:00 (see registration procedure below). Special arrangements for events possible. (andrea.lender@lsbg.hamburg.de) Registration: Openings Monday must be registered no later than Thursday of the previous week. Openings Tuesday to Friday must be announced 48 hours before opening. Registrations possible Mon-Thu between 07:00 and 14:30, and Fridays and before holidays until 12:30. |
| Notification | USW radio channel 13; Name: Harburg Lock; or on +49 40 42847-4851 |
| Operating time | From Monday to Friday 6:00 to 22:00, (means till 21:00)j - Saturday and Sunday 6:00 – 18:00 |
|---|---|
| Opening time | The opening of the bridge only takes place on advance request at the Este Lock. Requests must take place at least one hour before the desired opening; for times outside of the opening time, at least one hour before the end of operating time. |
| Notification | USW radio channel 10; Name: Este Lock; or on +49 40 42847-7011 |
| Operating time | Daily, nonstop day and night |
|---|---|
| Opening time | ./. |
| Notification | USW radio channel 13; Name: Harburg Lock; or on +49 40 42847-4851 |
| Operating time | Daily, nonstop day and night |
|---|---|
| Opening time | As the project to rebuild the Lock will begin, the Reiherstieg lock will be taken out of service from 01.11.2022. This will be closed until 2027. From 01.11.2022 both Ellerholz lock chambers will be closed twice a day, 0.5 hours before and up to 1 hour after low water level. |
| Notification | USW radio channel 13; Name: Ellerholz Lock; or on +49 40 42847-4850 |
| Operating time | Mon.–Fri. from 7:30 to 16:30; Sat, Sun and bank holidays 10:00–19:00 |
|---|---|
| Opening time | Requests for operation outside of the opening time must be made at least one hour before the end of operating time. From 1 November to 31 March: Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 14:30 (except bank holidays): Requests for operation within the opening time must be made at least 2 hours before the desired opening; for operation outside of the opening time, at least 2 hours before the end of operating time. Lock operations outside of the opening time are subject to a fee. From 01.11.2022 locks for Sport ship are carreid out - every full hour in the direction of the Elbe -every half hour in the direction of the Ernst-August Canal |
| Notification | Phone +49 40 42847-4870 |
| Operating time | Daily from 8:30 to 19:30 |
|---|---|
| Opening time | Requests for operation outside of the opening time must be made at least one hour before the end of operating time. From 1 November to 31 March: Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 14:30 (except bank holidays): Requests for operation within the opening time must be made at least 2 hours before the desired opening; for operation outside of the opening time, at least 2 hours before the end of operating time. Lock operations outside of the opening time are subject to a fee. |
| Notification | Phone +49 40 42847-7030 |
German only:
§ 24 Passing through bridges
(2) Moving bridges are opened on request during the opening time, which is provided by the responsible authority, if the traffic and operation conditions allow. Operation only takes place outside of the opening time when a request has been made at least a half an hour before the end of operating time.
The general terms and conditions of the Hamburg Port Authority apply to the use of the bridges and watergates in the port area of Hamburg.
![[Translate to English:] ASW](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/6/csm_T3_Hochwasser_975d180f4d.jpg "[Translate to English:] Hochwasser im Hafen")
![[Translate to English:] ASW](/fileadmin/_processed_/9/0/csm_T3_Karriere_d29c72aea3.jpg "[Translate to English:] Karriere bei der HPA")
![[Translate to English:] ASW](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/b/csm_T3_infoPORT_9a1a84141c.jpg "[Translate to English:] infoPORT der HPA")
