Published on: December 8, 2025, 3:41 PM
On Friday, December 5, 2025, the lock gates at the head of Schijndel lock were drained. This allowed a 3D scan to create an accurate image of the visible damage.
To drain the gates, cofferdams were installed. This was done with a large crane placed on a specially prepared spot near the lock. A work basket was also attached to the crane so that employees could get a good view of the head of the lock from the basket.
Cracks in consoles
Besides a scan to map the damage, we have also ordered various parts that must be replaced anyway. For example, consoles on which the drive motors of the lock gates are mounted. The impact of the collision caused cracks in the consoles. We expect these parts to arrive in Schijndel today.
Furthermore, we are investigating a broken motor (out of a total of four motors) that controls the sliders in the gates and inspecting the gearboxes.
Difference between critical and non-critical damage
In the repair, we distinguish between critical and non-critical parts. The non-critical parts do not necessarily need to be repaired to put the lock back into operation. For example, damage to the railing or the platform.
If we can address this within the time needed for critical repairs, we will. But the goal is to have the lock safely operational as soon as possible.
