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State secretary Müller-Beck declares Ostuferhafen facility open for use
Port of Kiel now has a third berth for the call of large cruisers following the opening of the German port’s revamped Berth 1 in the Ostuferhafen.
An inauguration ceremony was held at the port on Sunday morning shortly after the arrival of Holland America Line’s Eurodam vessel. A giant ribbon was cut on the ship’s gangway to officially mark the authorisation and the start of cruise operations at the berth. The ribbon was jointly cut by Ralph Müller-Beck, state secretary in the Schleswig Holstein ministry of economic affairs, employment, transport and technology, Dr. Susanne Gaschke, Lord Mayor of the Federal State Capital of Kiel, Port of Kiel managing director, and Captain Henk Keijer.
“The addition of the Ostuferhafen to the number of berths offered to cruise ships in Kiel provides a valuable new capacity reserve, particularly whenever our cruise ship terminal Ostseekai is in use,” said Dirk Claus.
“We gain the additional flexibility we need and create development prospects for the future.”
“Kiel now has a total of three berths available for the handling of very big cruise ships, as well as other berths for smaller ships.”
Work on the newly enhanced Berth 1 began in the spring. To enable the call of the world’s largest cruisers the berth’s depth was increased to 10 metres along the entire 400-metre quay, while parts of the seabed were also reinforced and extensive fendering installed.
The renovation of Berth 1 is part of a €5.4 million Ostuferhafen development project aimed at expanding freight and logistic capacity and creating a big berth for cruise ships. The development was funded by the German government and supported by the Federal state of Schleswig Holstein.
