The Gelsenkirchen lock belongs - from the Rhine - to the third of the five channel stages of the Rhein-Herne Canal. It is located in Gelsenkirchen shortly before the city port Gelsenkirchen at the channel kilometer 23.32 and bridges a height difference of 6.20 meters.
The current lock group was built between 1980 and 1985 and consists of two locks. Both have usable lengths of 190 meters. The Nordschleuse is designed for a usable width of 12.10 meters, while the southern sluice has a usable width of 11.94 meters. On the water side, both locks have Hubsenktore, underwater Stemmtore. Opening the top door takes 55 seconds, opening the sub-door takes only 35 seconds.
The channel level also includes a pumping station for dewatering in the Rhine-Herne Canal. The lock group Gelsenkirchen is part of the route of the industrial culture.