Corinth Canal - Why so expensive

[chook]

Hi all,

We recently passed through the Corinth Canal and we enjoyed the experience. We found it to be expensive, 224 Euro for a 13.4 metre sail boat in winter. I was wondering why it's so expensive? I understand it cuts off a lot of time and they would need to dredge/work on the canal with 12000 boats going through per year. Also does anyone know if anyone has crashed into the walls of the canal? Just interested. Thanks guys, fair winds

Our video of our Corinth Canal journey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX36ycM-ep0

[john61ct]

Answered your own question you did.

It isn't a charity, you can afford it, lots cheaper than going around the long way.

In the end, because they can.

[Gruz]

Why asking here, you should ask Greek government, or main reason for "question" is to leave video and get some clicks.

You could ask same question without video and my answer would be the same, I do not know, ask Greek government.


No offend.

[Montanan]

The toll is not insubstantial nor onerous. E.g., if it was too expensive, you would not have used the passage way.

And it sure beats using the portage created by Periander, 2,600 years ago or the 700 kilometer route around the coastline of the peninsula.

By way of comparison, the 40 mile [65km] Panama canal cost $800.00 to transit with a <50 foot recreational vessel.

Construction of the modern Corinth Canal—which is 6.4 kilometers long (4 miles)—was started in 1882 and completed by 1893. The canal is narrow (only 21.3 meters, or 70 feet), making many ships too wide for it. Landslides from the steep walls have occasionally blocked the canal, while channeled winds and tides also can make navigation difficult.

[chook]

Thanks Montana, great info, didn't know the Panama was that expensive. We really liked the experience of the Corinth, was just not that long so thought it was expensive, but yes like most comments we paid it because well it's better than going around the long way haha.

Gruz no offense taken hahaha, thought people might be interested in the video as this forum had no info before we went through.

Does anyone know if anyone has crashed? Thanks for the reply's guys

[boatman61]

You do know you dont pay going back dont you..???

[Montanan]

As to the fees? Hey it's Greek to me! Reference the canal company's income statement below: At least I think this is the statement, being a Yank, Greek is a mystery, my bad. Revenue and income appear to be modest.

As to crashing into the sidewalls of the canal, I'm sure it happens more times then one thinks it should, especially if a strong wind channels the canal and a strong current [up to 3 knots]. But then that is what one has rub rails for, right?. Just navigate by braille, scrap, opps, too far to starboard, scrap again, opps, too far to port.

Now it would be a real achievement to sail the canal, obviously with just a tail wind as tacking to a head wind with a 70 foot width of channel would become quite the bother. If you accomplished such it would be an achievement to brag about [after you were let out of a Greek jail], kind of like driving UP Lombard Street in San Francisco instead of down the hill. SF where one leaves their heart.

I suspect that occasionally the tug boats fail to keep the large ships centered and something scraps and then recenters the ship into the deeper part. As a Captain of the large ship, one would just need to put trust in the tugboat operator, and sit back and drink cocktails as ya are just going along for quite the ride.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q1a0xkaYUE

[mikecambrai]

With regards to large vessels under tow not hitting the sides, I used to have a 39m Peniche and travelled through the European waterways. When you get to a lock or a cutting, you find that the water at the front of the barge has to go somewhere so it will go under the barge and along the sides of the barge. Otherwise, you would be like a piston in a cylinder. This keeps the barge away from the sides of the narrow passage. If the water is shallow you will get the shallow water effect which can cause the boat to sheer, so you need to keep the speed down to avoid this.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by mikecambrai

With regards to large vessels under tow not hitting the sides, I used to have a 39m Peniche and travelled through the European waterways. When you get to a lock or a cutting, you find that the water at the front of the barge has to go somewhere so it will go under the barge and along the sides of the barge. Otherwise, you would be like a piston in a cylinder. This keeps the barge away from the sides of the narrow passage. If the water is shallow you will get the shallow water effect which can cause the boat to sheer, so you need to keep the speed down to avoid this.

Thanks Mike for that explanation, that would be comforting to have such hydraulic bumper mechanism working for a tight squeeze.

[georgy.goshin]

Göta canal will cost you 1500 eur

[georgy.goshin]

Kiel canal will be free of charge

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by georgy.goshin

Göta canal will cost you 1500 eur

Wow, at that cost it could be named in English: GOTCHAnal.

But then it has to cost a lot to maintain and operate what with all the locks to transit and its limited months of availability for use [about 5 months] due to icing.

From Wikipedia:

Modern usage
Parts of the canal are still used to transport cargo, but it is now primarily used as a tourist and recreational attraction, dubbed Sveriges blå band ("Sweden's Blue Ribbon"). Around two million people visit the canal each year on pleasure cruises - either on own boats or on one of the many cruise ships - and related activities. The canal is called the "divorce ditch" because of the troubles that couples have to endure while trying to navigate the narrow canal and the many locks by themselves.

[georgy.goshin]

Originally Posted by Montanan

WThe canal is called the "divorce ditch" because of the troubles that couples have to endure while trying to navigate the narrow canal and the many locks by themselves.[/SIZE][/B]

great side effect, will keep in mind, thanks

[Scaramanga F25]

That is quite inexpensive...try the Panama Canal...LOL yachts under 50 feet figure $1875.oo US dollars in cash.

[Maple Leaf]

Thanks for the video! I enjoyed and lea not something. Fair Winds