River elevator in Strépy-Thieu

is the successor to four elevators from the UNESCO list, located on the canal du Center. In 1963 year, the maximum ship displacement standard 1350 tonnes was introduced in European river navigation. There was a problem on how to overcome the level differences of 70 meters, between La Louvière and Thieu.

In the case of the previous channel, this problem was solved by using two locks and four elevators, each of which leveled the 16 meters of the level difference. Now it was decided to replace the six worn tools by one vertical lift, which would offset 73 meters of the difference in levels. The construction of this lift began in the 1982 year. It was put into use after twenty years in 2002 year.

vertical divider

River lift Strépy-Thieu, photo. PM

The cost of the entire construction was 160 million. The implementation of this undertaking allowed to achieve the required standard 1350 tons of capacity. What's more, the lift has increased the maximum capacity of vessels sailing along the route between Meuse and Scheldt rivers from 256 tonnes in year 2001 to 2295 tonnes in year 2006. The lift is located on the Canal du Center in the municipality of Le Rœulx, in Belgium. It was the highest lift for boats until the opening of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in China.

The elevator has impressive dimensions: 

* 117 height meters
* 130 meters in length
* 81 meters in width

The dimensions of the caisson transferring ships are 112 m to 12 m, depth 3,35-4,15 m

The construction consists of two independent counterweight caissons that travel vertically. Due to Archimedes' law, the caissons weigh the same, regardless of whether they carry a boat or are empty, the weight is equalized with a mass of water.

Vertical, watertight gates are designed to withstand the impact of a 2000 ton ship traveling 5 km/h.