Kiel Port expands with new cruise berth
The German Baltic port of Kiel, which has invested over €60m in new passenger and freight facilities over the past five years, is now planning more investment to boost cargo and cope with bigger cruise ships.
Spokesman Ulf Jahnke told MJ the port was pushing ahead with plans to create by early 2013 a third berth for cruise ships of 300m and over by expanding Berth One in the predominantly cargo handling Ostuferhafen.
Two such berths are already available at the Ostseekai Terminal, while ships of up to 200m can berth at the Norwegenkai and the Schwedenkai. Both are also capable of Ro-Ro and other handling and Schwedenkai, revamped in 2010, boasts an intermodal rail terminal.
The Ostuferhafen’s Berth One has a quay length of 380m on a consistent water depth of 9.5m. It is planned to adapt it for passenger ships by installing new quay fenders and passenger gangways. Passenger and luggage handling will be on an area of more than 3,000 m² and the former Warehouse No. II, one of two acquired by the port this year, will be transformed into a passenger terminal.
Port of Kiel MD Dirk Claus said the average size of visiting cruise ships was now five times more than a decade ago. “We will adapt our terminal capacities to the rising demand and invest in expansion”, he said.
Ulf Jahnke told MJ that Ro-Ro berth and gate facilities at the Ostuferhafen were also being expanded to meet rising cargo demand.
Elsewhere, an additional 9,000 m2 of area has gone into service at the Norwegenkai Terminal after completion of expansion costing €1.5m.
The work began in spring and included the demolition of old buildings and the backfilling and securing of new areas. The port said a main aim was to meet the growing needs of leading Norwegenkai ferry customer Color Line for bigger parking areas for trailers.
By Tom Todd
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