Collision at Bremen's Kalihafen harbor involves a heavy goods vehicle for the first time
A significant development is underway in Bremen's industrial harbor, with the construction of a new 230-meter heavy-duty berth set to enhance cargo handling capabilities and bolster the local economy. The project, which kicked off on October 21, is budgeted for 6.65 million euros and is expected to be completed by Christmas, following an eight-week period of particularly noisy ramming work.
The new berth, to be built 13.5 meters in front of the existing shore in the Kali harbor area, is designed to accommodate large, heavy-duty ships. This capability is crucial for attracting bigger vessels and increasing throughput in the port. By providing a modern, specialized berth, cargo handling companies can streamline their loading and unloading operations, reducing turnaround times for ships. This efficiency translates into cost savings and higher service reliability.
Senator Kristina Vogt, responsible for Economy, Harbors, and Transformation, was present at the event's official kick-off. She stated that this development will secure jobs and good work in the harbor for the future. bremenports CEO Robert Howe echoed this sentiment, requesting understanding from residents in the nearby area regarding the noise caused by the construction.
The construction project involves the use of 825 tons of sheet pile steel up to 29 meters long, around 100 piles up to 30 meters long for anchoring, and 22,000 cubic meters of sand. The companies Tiemann GmbH & Co. KG and Diersch & Schröder GmbH & Co. KG are contributing approximately one-third of the costs for the overall construction measure.
The new berth will enable direct ship traffic between Bremen and Bremerhaven, offering advantages to around fifty established cargo handling and logistics companies, as well as industrial businesses. The berth also has ecological advantages as it allows for the transport of far more goods by water than by truck.
The industrial harbor is significant as around half of Bremen's seaborne cargo handling takes place there. With this upgrade, Bremen can better compete with other northern European ports by meeting the demands of modern shipping, which increasingly relies on specialized, heavy-duty facilities. This development is a strategic enhancement for sustaining and growing the harbor’s role in regional and global shipping networks.
The construction of the new berth is being undertaken by the harbor management company bremenports. The new Kali berth will allow cargo and tank ships with a significantly greater draft (up to 10.5 meters) to dock. This will strengthen Bremen’s position as a critical node for maritime trade and industrial logistics by improving capacity, efficiency, and economic potential for cargo handling companies and the local economy alike.
- The new Kali berth, constructed by bremenports, will cater to the demands of modern shipping by offering a specialized facility for large, heavy-duty ships, thereby attracting bigger vessels and boosting cargo handling capabilities in the industrial harbor of Bremen.
- With the new berth enabling direct ship traffic between Bremen and Bremerhaven, around fifty established cargo handling and logistics companies, as well as industrial businesses, are expected to benefit from increased efficiency and cost savings due to streamlined loading and unloading operations.
- In addition to benefiting the local economy, the new berth holds ecological advantages as it allows for the transport of far more goods by water than by truck, contributing to a greener and more sustainable energy-efficient transportation system in the public-transit network of Bremen.
