Port of Hamburg on the verge of a breakthrough in deepening of the Elbe

“The decision on the planning procedure for the fairway adjustments for the Lower and Outer Elbe is unlawful and unenforceable due to violations of the habitat protection law.” This was the judgement of the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig on 9 February. The further action requests for waiver of planning approval were dismissed by the court.

Also other complaints made by the plaintiffs are not effective. “The planning project is justified. Considering the development of ship sizes the planning authority can assume corresponding transport needs”, the Federal Administrative Court notes in a press release.

Hamburg’s Senator of Economics, Transport and Innovation Frank Horch said: “We finally have legal certainty.  But even if we must complete the approval basics again due to higher requirements of environmental law, there is no doubt that the adjustment will happen. The Port of Hamburg remains a main job driver, providing more than 150,000 jobs in Nothern Germany.

The fairway adjustment is the most important strategic expansion project for the port of Hamburg. The discussed legal issues related most part, to new legal ground. It can now be read the first time, how the legal framework for water management and water protection is applied in Germany. Given the rapidly growing vessels Hamburg is dependent on the long term on adapting its maritime access to this technological development. Only this will ensure that Hamburg can be called with economically acceptable conditions and remains competitive.

Mega-containerships and bulk carriers deployed worldwide meanwhile have drafts that as a rule exceed the maximum at present permissible on the Lower and Outer Elbe. This applies especially to the containerships on the East Asia trade route that is of such importance for the Port of Hamburg. Ships can currently arrive at and leave the Port of Hamburg under the following conditions (based on a target vessel with 300 m length, 32 m width and 13.50 m draft):

Arrive irrespective of the tide: max. 12.50 m draft*

Leave irrespective of the tide: max. 12.50 m draft*

Arrive depending on tide: max. 14.80 m draft*

Leave depending on tide: max. 13.50 m draft*

*in seawater

On the Lower Elbe between Glückstadt and Port of Hamburg ship encounters, or the passing of two ships, are only possible when their combined width does not exceed 90 metres.

After dredging of the navigation channel on the Lower and Outer Elbe ships should be able to call and leave the Port of Hamburg under the following conditions (based on a target vessel with 350 m length, 46 m width and 14.50 m draft):

Arrive irrespective of the tide: max. 13.50 m draft*

Leave irrespective of the tide: max. 13.50 m draft*

Arrive depending on tide: max. 15.60 m draft*

Leave depending on tide: max. 14.50 m draft*

*in seawater

In places, widening the navigation channel is at least as important as deepening it. On the section before Hamburg, vessels with a combined breadth of more than 90 metres cannot meet in the navigation channel with its width of around 300 metres. As part of the deepening of the navigation channel, this is to be widened to 320 metres, and between Wedel and Wittenberg also be extended by a ‘meeting box’ around seven kilometres’ long. A width of 385 metres is planned for the navigation channel there.

www.bverwg.de; www.hafen-hamburg.de

 

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