Plotting a Growth Trajectory - With the Help of New Quays

The capacities of the Europakai (Europe Quay) in Cuxhaven, which is utilized as an all-purpose pier, are nearly exhausted. To avoid waiting times in the processing of ships, Niedersachsen Ports is planning the extension of this quay. This will result in the creation of Berth 4, with a length of 290 meters and will include a heavy load platform. The quay is designed for vessels with a draft of max. 17.30 meters. The quay's construction will also open up surface areas with a total size of about eight hectares for cargo handling operation. Due to the expected usage for offshore, heavy lift and project cargoes, the quays and cargo handling areas will be designed to handle heavy load stress.

In Brake, the handling of agricultural products has steadily increased over the years. Each year, more than three million metric tons are brought ashore. To adjust the port's capacities to accommodate the rising turnover quantities, Niedersachsen Ports prepared in 2015 all necessary steps for the construction of a second large ship berth. This will ensure an increased cargo handling capacity of 4.3 million metric tons annually. For the new berth, which will be located between the Süd- und Mittelpier (South and Center Piers), the shoreside bollards will be retrofitted, the rail facility will be moved, and an additional crane rail track will be created. This means that in the future, two large ships with a length of up to 275 meters can be processed simultaneously. After dredging the bed, the berth will be suited for ships with a draft of up to 12.80 meters. Once the impending expansion of the River Weser is completed, it will be possible to process Panamax Class size ships in Brake.  This would make the expensive lightering of vessels in Antwerp, Rotterdam, or Amsterdam a thing of the past.

On the South Quay in the interior port of Emden, we noticed a good increase of the handled cargo quantities over the past years. In order for the companies doing business there to expand their activities, Niedersachsen Ports modernized the port's cargo handling technology. In the center area of the South Quay, we are creating an uninterrupted staging strip for the existing port mobile crane, which will run parallel to the quay's edge. We are also adding additional reinforced storage areas.

The Deep Water Port Wilhelmshaven is Germany's number 1 energy hub. Simultaneously to the Niedersachsenbrücke (Niedersachsen bridge) expansion, the Rüstersieler Groden was equipped with a modern superstructure for transport, handling, and storage of coal. In order to supply power plants in the hinterland, Niedersachsen Ports has strengthened the rail infrastructure within the port. Rail facilities of neighboring companies were taken over and adjusted, rail switches were installed and rail tracks were lengthened. Now there is a total of six shunting and holding tracks available for the processing of the coal trains.

In the Seaport of Emden, the complete restoration of the 19th century Nesserlander Lock is currently underway. In front of the existing lock, both inside and outside of the seawalls, new lock heads are being constructed. This means that the usable length of the chamber will be increased to about 170 meters, and the width of the chamber to 18 meters. At both the inner and the outer head, the concrete works were finished. The lock gates are scheduled to be installed in the spring and fall of 2016, respectively. The emergency operation booth is also being constructed at this time. Inside the lock chamber, 419 piles for floatation control were driven in, and a total of approx. 5,000 cubic meters of concrete were poured, to form the underwater bed. After the bailing of the lock chamber, we will tackle the concrete works of the walls in a dry environment. The installation of the bridge, and the opening-up for general traffic is scheduled for 2017.