The Dortmund-Ems Canal (DEC) connects the Ruhr area and the sea ports of Bremen and Hamburg via the Rhine-Herne Canal (RHC) and the Wesel-Datteln Canal (WDC). The DEC is divided into the southern part (from Datteln to Bergeshövede) and the northern part (from Bergeshövede to Emden) The DEC North section covers a height difference of around 29 m over a distance of approx. 30 km by means of 6 locks and represents the connection between the Mittelland Canal and the river Ems.
The objective was the replacement (new construction) of the five dependent locks of Bevergern, Rodde, Venhaus, Hesselte and Gleesen, and an improvement of the use of the DEC North section in this connection.

IRS provided engineering services for the planning of the hydro-mechanical structures and the associated technical equipment as member of a joint venture with their partners SWECO grbv, Lahmeyer Hydroprojekt and DriveCon as subcontractor.
In the course of the hydro-mechanical planning of the five locks of the DEC North section, IRS worked within the expert and standardisation group of the WSV to develop a large variety of standardised gates, hydro-mechanical and technical equipment as well as drive solutions, which should also be used at other locks all over Germany in the future.

Scope of planning:
- Planning of a standardised radial gate with filling curvature for a water pressure of up to 5.0 m
- Planning of standardised mitre gates with emptying flaps with a lifting height from 1.0 m to 10.0 m
- Planning of a standardised anti-collision rope for locks up to a lifting height of 6.0 m
- Planning of a standardised anti-collision beam for locks from a lifting height of 6.0 m
- Planning of standardised floating bollards
- Planning of a standardised operating gate as roller gate for a water pressure of up to 8.0 m
- Planning of a standardised inspection gate (sliding gate) for operating gates
- Planning of a standardised chamber inspection gate (stoplog) for a water pressure of up to 6.0 m
- Planning of standardised drive technology (hydraulics, electrical lifting cylinder)
- Planning of standardised agitators and air-bubble installations for ice prevention and debris deflection
- Planning of safety equipment (fall protection, davits)
- Planning of installation auxiliaries

Technical data:
- Chamber width: 12.50 m
- Largest lifting height (standardisation): 10.00 m
- Lowest lifting height (standardisation): 1.00 m
- Largest gate height (mitre gate): 15.75 m
- Smallest gate height (mitre gate): 6.75 m
- Largest gate weight (mitre gate): 75 t
- Largest driving force (radial gate): 1,800 kN