Rostock Construction Boosts Cruise Capacity

The rebuilding of the old Berth 8 at the Warnemünde Cruise Terminal follows a two year tug of war involving Rostock Port, the City of Rostock and the owners of the berth, Aker Werft Warnemuende. A leasing deal was finally agreed in May. The project is costing €10-11 million, with regional authorities putting up nearly €7 million and the Rostock Port Development Company (HERO) the rest.

The berth will host large cruise ships of 250 to 300m length and is due for completion April. That will be just in time for visits of more than 50 cruise ships of that size out of a total 100 due to call during 2008.

Construction began in October and is being undertaken by a consortium grouping German civil engineering concern Züblin and leading Danish civil engineering contractor Arsleff. The consortium first cleared a 400m stretch of the base of the old berth and, in works which will extend to mid April next year, is building a sheet pile wall 320m long, set 3m in front of the old quay wall and anchored on land.

From this month, 17m sheet piles are being driven into the prepared bed. The gap between the old and new sheet piling is being filled with gravel and sand and paved. At the beginning of next year water depth will be dredged to approximately 10m.

The second phase of the project, from April to August next year, will cover the construction of an additional 145m length of quay for a total of 465 m. The quay curves at the 412m point. Along with waterside building, landside surface work is being carried out.

By Tom Todd<