New deep-water hub for German Baltic port

At a cost of about €30 million, Mukran’s Berth 3a is being expanded and the port basin deepened to 14.95m by the beginning of 2023. An estimated 640,000 cu m of sand will be dredged so that ships with a capacity of up to120,000  tons can be fully loaded directly at the pier.

Mukran spokesman Felix Zimmermann told MJ the pier was being extended by 130m to 330m in work for completion hopefully before year’s end. Work on the harbour entrance would follow next year, he said.

The first construction phase brings together the Munich-based, globally active BayWa Group – whose core handling includes agriculture, energy and building materials. Its partner is the Rügen-based Fährhafen Sassnitz – of which Mukran is a part.

In addition to the port expansion, BayWa and German shipping company VIELA Export will together invest €5.5 million in a loading facility and two additional grain silos, each for up to 12,500 tons. VIELA Export operates out of Mukran and also Vierow inland. It handles products including grain, feedstuffs and fertilisers.

BayWa said that as a result of the joint investment it would be possible in future to load 1,000 tons an hour at peak periods at two loading bays – 40% faster than now. Storage capacity will increase from 40,000 tons now to 65,000 tons, it said.

The company peredicted the changes would mean that BayWa will be able to double its grain handling in Mukran to two million tons a year.

Who will handle the construction work was not initially reported but BayWa said since Berth 3a was being built separately, ongoing BayWa operations would not be restricted by the construction work.

“In recent years, BayWa has become strongly internationalised in the agricultural business, but without losing its roots in agriculture here at home”, said BayWa CEO Klaus Josef Lutz.“We have always said that the German agricultural business is part of BayWa’s DNA and the investment that has now been launched underlines our position very clearly. Our goal is to become the most efficient handling point for grain and feedstuffs on the Baltic”, he declared.