Legal basis

For transit through Kiel Canal, transit fees are levied in accordance with the Kiel Canal transit fee ordinance (NOK-Befahrungsabgabenverordnung - NOKBefAbgV), both for commercial and recreational shipping. This means that also vessels that are used exclusively for leisure and pleasure trips are subject to transit fees as well. These fees are levied based on public law. Therefore, the payment is not based on purchase agreement and you do not buy a ticket as for example in public transport.

It is a public fee for the use of the artificial waterway Kiel Canal. You can pay the fees at two payment machines located at the Kiel-Holtenau lock facilities. To do so, you must moor your recreational craft at a pier. Payment is possible in cash in euro or by credit or debit card or girocard.

However, you may also pay the fee in advance via this webshop. In order to do so, you need to specify the planned transit time and the length of the vessel. In addition, you must specify the direction of transit and whether you wish to pass through two locks (complete transit) or one lock (partial transit). The webshop then sends you a fee notice via e-mail, stating the fee amount (amount according to No. 1.2 and No. 1.3 and No. 2.2 and No. 2.3 of the Annex to Section 1 of the NOKBefAbgV). The fee notice will also contain information concerning legal remedies.You will receive a receipt by e-mail including a code upon payment of the fee.The code is valid two days before the specified date until three days after that date in order to allow for some flexibility concerning the day of transit.

Of course, you may still pay the fee via the webshop shortly before your trip, planning ahead for a longer period of time is not necessary.

You present the code at checkpoints to prove that you have paid the fee. A printout in Din A 4 format is helpful for this purpose. A handwritten notice of the code in Din A 4 format ans bold letters is another possibility.

 

Objection and request for revocation under public law

in principle, you may lodge an objection in writing (objection), also by e-mail, within one month after the fee notice was announced to you (objection deadline  in accordance with Section 70 of the German Code of Administrative Court Procedure (70 Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung) in order to have payment reimbursed. You would need to state the number of the fee notice and reasons that you no longer wish to make the trip and why (objection).  Should you have missed the deadline of one month and your plans change, you may file a request for revocation in accordance with Section 49 of the German Administrative Procedure Act (49 Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz) explaining why you are not making the trip.

 

No revocation as under civil law distance selling transactions

The transit fee is based on public law which means that the right of withdrawal in the case of off-premises contracts and distance contracts as provided for in Section 355 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB) does not apply here.