<P> The Rhine -- Herne Canal ( German : Rhein - Herne - Kanal ) is a 45.6 - kilometre - long ( 28.3 mi ) transportation canal in the Ruhr area of North Rhine - Westphalia , Germany , with five canal locks . The canal was built over a period of eight years ( 5 April 1906 - 14 July 1914 ) and connects the harbour in Duisburg on the Rhine ( 51 ° 26 ′ 59 '' N 6 ° 46 ′ 1 '' E ﻿ / ﻿ 51.44972 ° N 6.76694 ° E ﻿ / 51.44972 ; 6.76694 ) with the Dortmund - Ems Canal near Henrichenburg ( 51 ° 37 ′ 1 '' N 7 ° 19 ′ 19 '' E ﻿ / ﻿ 51.61694 ° N 7.32194 ° E ﻿ / 51.61694 ; 7.32194 ) , following the valley of the Emscher . It was widened in the 1980s . The Rhein - Herne canal ship was designed specifically for this canal ; normally of about 1300 -- 1350 ton capacity , it has a maximum draft of 2.50 metres ( 8.2 ft ) , a length of approximately 80 metres ( 260 ft ) , and maximum beam of 9.50 metres ( 31.2 ft ) . </P>
industrial city in germany on the rhine herne canal
Duisburg Henrichenburg