Skipper´s Guide EN 2023 1
Road bridges with fixed opening hours The E22 bri
dge in Söderköping The bridge is opened on every hour and half hour during the canal high season. On Fridays and Sundays, the bridge is only opened on the hour between 15.00-18.00. This also applies on the last Thursday before Midsummer. The last bridge opening of the day is at 18.00 hours. During pre- and post-seasons, the bridge only open for pre-booked traffic following a set itinerary. Road bridges in Töreboda and Karlsborg The bridges are opened on every hour and half hour during the canal high season, excluding. 12, 13 and 16 hours on weekdays. The last bridge opening of the day is at 18.00 hours *Note that bridge opening can take place both before and after the set time due to traffic on the canal. At all railroad bridges across the Göta Canal, rail traffic has right of way. The lock keeper will contact a dispatcher at the Swedish Transport Administration who authorises the bridge opening and enables power to open the bridge. Unfortunately, this occasionally creates delays over which the lock keepers have no influence. Delays due to commercial traffic All commercial traffic on the Göta Canal has right of way at locks and bridges as they are on a fixed timetable. You may therefore have to wait until such boats have passed the lock or bridge you are at. Delays due to water level adjustments It is absolutely necessary to maintain the right water level in all parts of the canal. Occasionally, we need to add more water to a particular section to maintain the depth. In that event, lock keepers will inform you about how long it is estimated to take. Delays due to bad weather During thunderstorms, locking and bridge opening is always aborted or delayed for safety reasons. In difficult wind conditions, the boat may drift problematically when locking. It is the boat owner’s responsibility to decide whether or not to lock in such conditions. Delays | 11