Editing Zuid-Willemsvaart (section)

=== CEMT class II/IV (2014) ===
In 1982 the government decided to widen the Zuid-Willemsvaart up to NederWeert, and the connecting Wessem Nederweert Canal to [[Classification of European Inland Waterways|CEMT]] class IV.<ref name=LD27101982 /> Helmond Lock was opened in 1993, and Schijndel Lock was taken into use in 1995. Schijndel Lock has a lock chamber with useful dimensions of 110 * 12.50&nbsp;m. Normal depth at the lower gate is 3.80&nbsp;m.{{sfn|Van der Meer|Stoop|Wiggers|1996|p=3}} These first steps had little effect. Near the Meuse [[Engelen Lock]] limited the length of ships to 90&nbsp;m. In 's-Hertogenbosch [[Sluis 0]], still had the original passage width of only 6.8&nbsp;m, and a depth of 2.1&nbsp;m. For the moment, the advantage of these works was therefore limited to a substantial increase in allowed length, and a small increase in the allowed draft, of ships using the canal. The opening of the [[Máxima Canal]] in December 2014, actually allowed ships of CEMT class IV to use the canal up to Veghel.

In 2014 the situation south of Veghel was that Lock 4, 5 and 6 were suitable for CEMT class IV,{{sfn|Gramberg|Steenbakkers|2015|p=3}} but the canal itself was not. Now a different solution came up, which consisted of up to 110&nbsp;m long combinations. One was the [[pusher (boat)]] with two inline [[barge]]s before it. The other the {{lang|nl|koppelverband}} of two class II ships, which could transport 900 tons, instead of the previous 450 tons maximum. With only a few changes the canal up to the crossing with the Wilhelmina Canal was made suitable for these kind of ships. The same changes were applied westward to the Wilhelmina canal up to the Beatrix Canal, and to the Beatrix Canal itself.{{sfn|Gramberg|Steenbakkers|2015|p=3}}