Editing Zuid-Willemsvaart (section)

=== CEMT class II (Up to 2014) ===
Nothing much was done to modernize the canal after it had been constructed. Some changes were made to the locks, but their maximum passage width remained the same. In 1975 the canal was suitable for ships of [[Classification of European Inland Waterways|CEMT]] class II, but with a maximum draft of only 1.90&nbsp;m. This translated to ships with a cargo capacity of 600 tons, of which only 450 tons could be used due to the depth restrictions of the canal.{{sfn|Rijkswaterstaat|1975a|p=3}}

The size limits of the canal only became problematic after World War II. In 1960 the average cargo capacity of ships on the canal was 190 ton. By 1974 this average was 325 tons.{{sfn|Rijkswaterstaat|1975b|p=15}} Details at Sluis 0 showed that by this time vessels of up to 200 tons were becoming obsolete. From 1968 to 1975 their number at Sluis 0 decreased by two-thirds.{{sfn|Rijkswaterstaat|1975c}}