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The Wasserstraßen-Neubauamt Berlin (WNA Berlin) is a central investment bundling office of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) with a focus on the Berlin-Brandenburg region. As a subordinate agency of the Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt (GDWS) in the department of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), the office invests around 50 million euros annually on behalf of the federal government in the maintenance, needs-based expansion and environmentally compatible new construction of the federal waterway infrastructure.[1][2][3]
The WNA Berlin takes on a comprehensive service portfolio for the planning, implementation and monitoring of projects along 1,474 kilometers of waterways, including the iconic Schiffshebewerk Niederfinow ship lift, 71 locks, 77 weirs and 294 bridge structures. The core competencies include:[1][2]
Current projects underline the operative strength: The replacement construction of the Rautenkranzbrücke, the handover of the new Schiffshebewerk Niederfinow in May 2024 to the Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsamt Oder-Havel, the construction of a new control center with a volume of 20 million euros and the repair of the banks of the Charlottenburger Verbindungskanal.[3]
With around 110 employees - including female engineers, male engineers, female technicians, male technicians, skilled workers and administrative staff - the WNA Berlin is divided into seven departments. These cover areas such as organization/personnel/IT, engineering surveying/nature conservation, fixed systems, waterbed, mechanical engineering/electrical engineering/building construction and bridges. The office is headed by the Leitende Technische Regierungsdirektor Rolf Dietrich.[2][4][5]
The office was established in the course of German reunification on October 3, 1990 and has since established itself as an indispensable player for modern waterway infrastructure.[6]
The main mission of the WNA Berlin is: Ensuring safe, efficient and sustainable shipping on federal waterways through high-quality planning and construction. Core values are professionalism, reliability and cooperation with partner offices such as the Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsamtern Eberswalde, Berlin and Brandenburg an der Havel. The office emphasizes a cooperative working culture, as the inauguration of a lounge meeting area in July 2023 shows, which promotes exchange.[3][7]
Environmental compatibility is at the center of all activities. The WNA Berlin prioritizes needs-based expansions that meet ecological requirements, including nature conservation and landscape planning in department 2. Projects such as the new construction of the Schiffshebewerks Niederfinow integrate modern technologies for resource conservation and biodiversity conservation. The WSV strategy, to which the office contributes, aims at climate-neutral infrastructure, with a focus on durable materials and energy-efficient systems - without compromising on safety and functionality.[1][2][3]
The WNA Berlin embodies the bridge between tradition and innovation: From historical buildings such as Niederfinow to forward-looking projects, it secures the vitality of a transport network that connects economy, environment and mobility. (2,148 characters including spaces)
