Werner said JWP was already evaluating First Phase construction tenders received from 'qualified national and European consortia'.

The contract is expected to be awarded by August when JWP hopes to have its plans approved by local authorities.

First Phase building, which will accommodate an expected 1.1 million TEU a year, involves construction of a 1.725km long quay, northern and southern dams, filling of an area of about 370 hectares and dredging of the River Jade approaches. Later construction phases will involve ramming and the provision of road and rail connections.

The JWP terminal itself will be 120 hectares in size with four berths, 16 post-Panamax container cranes, and 68 four high van carriers making it capable of handling future generation containerships of up to 12,000 TEU capacity.

Behind the terminal will be a logistical and industrial area of 170 hectares. There will also be a turning basin of 700m diameter. The new terminal will be complete by 2016 and handling up to 2.9 million TEU.

JWP has a short sea approach of 23 miles and will be accessible via the 18m deep Jade Fairway for container ships drawing up to 16.5m, 430m long and 58m wide.

Wilhelmshaven, Germany's third biggest port, handles some 45m tons a year and is the furthest East of all the deep water ports on the European North Range.