Temporary lock on Germany's Mosel River working better than expected: Trapped ships to be freed by end-December

The inland waterways cargo vessels stranded on the Mosel in Germany could leave the river by the end of December as a temporary lock is working faster than expected, navigation authorities said on Tuesday.

The river, an important transit route between Germany and France, was closed to inland waterways shipping last week, trapping 74 river freighters mostly carrying cargos including grains and rapeseed after an accident which damaged a lock at Mueden south of Koblenz.

Lock repairs are likely to last until spring 2025 but a temporary lock enabled seven trapped vessels to leave the Mosel in the first 24 hours after starting work on Monday, a WSA spokesperson said. It is hoped that seven to eight vessels a day will be able to leave.

Initially it was estimated that only about four to six ships a day would be able to use the emergency lock.

"The temporary lock is working better than expected and we hope that all the trapped vessels will be freed by the end of December," the spokesperson said.

The river is an important link for grain and rapeseed shipments to and from Germany and France.

European rapeseed futures rose last week after trading platform Euronext said it will suspend physical delivery to river ports in eastern France for the February contract, following the blockage of the Mosel.

(Reporting by Michael Hogan, editing by Angus MacSwan)