The Sande‒Wilhelmshaven section was electrified as part of the ASS project Oldenburg‒Wilhelmshaven. The Mariensiel bascule bridges over the Ems-Jade Canal are located at kilometre 48.091.

Furrer+Frey developed a new type of movable overhead conductor rail system (MOCS) with associated control system to allow boats to continue passing below the historic bridges. As general contractor, we were responsible for planning, delivering, installing and commissioning the system. The project involved designing the overall construction for wind speeds of up to 12 Beaufort, as well as taking the challenging environmental and site conditions into account.

Two segments of movable overhead conductor rails, each being equipped with two motors of 15 kW, were installed on each track. The control system, containing frequency converters and absolute encoders for the swivelling process, meets the requirements for safe operation and monitoring under survey of two fail-safe PLCs.

This unique MOCS installation was handed over to Deutsche Bahn and took up service in time for the start of the season on the canal in mid-May. We would like to wish everyone a summer of safe travels, both on the tracks above and the water below!