New Kiel cruise berth is operational

The new Berth 1 is in the Ostuferhafen, until now largely a freight-handling facility, and was inaugurated during the recent visit of the 86,273 gt Holland America Line cruise ship Eurodam.

Kiel now has three berths capable of handling very big cruise ships, as well as smaller facilities. The other two big berths are at the Ostseekai Terminal on the other side of the Kieler Fjord.

Berth 1 has been revamped from a pure freight handling facility. A water depth of 10m was created along the entire 400m quayside and parts of the seabed were also reinforced. On the quayside itself, extensive fendering suitable for passenger ships was installed along with a new passenger gangway. The new facility has also been adapted to meet the requirements of the ISPS Code on port safety.

The renovation of Berth I is part of a €5.4m Ostuferhafen development project aimed at expanding cargo and logistics capacity and creating the new third cruise berth and terminal. It is being co-funded by the German Government and the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, of which Kiel is the capital.

Initially for use only as a stopover berth for land excursions, Berth 1 is now being expanded into a cruise ship turnaround facility as well, where passengers will begin and end cruises.

Schleswig-Holstein State Secretary Ralph Mueller-Beck said the berth was of major importance for Kiel “because ships carrying up to 4,000 passengers can be handled here”. He added “we are creating the infrastructure conditions which will enable us to be a part of cruise tourism growth in northern Europe”.

Berth 1 is just the first stage of the cruise development. Part of the freight hall adjacent to Berth 1 will now to be converted for luggage handling and a modern pavilion will be built onto the front as a waiting area for passengers. Planning has already been approved and construction will begin next year. Completion is scheduled for the start of the cruise season in 2015.

The managing director of the Port of Kiel, Dirk Claus, said the new berth “provides a valuable new capacity reserve, particularly whenever our cruise ship terminal Ostseekai is in use. We gain the additional flexibility we need and create development prospects for the future.”

Berth 1 is not the only recent new addition to the Ostuferhafen’s capability. A new 30m wide, 21m high Polish built Kalmar RTG costing €1.5m has also just begun operation at the intermodal terminal. It will increase rail’s share of cargo handling.

By Tom Todd