It will be the third berth facility for big cruise ships in Kiel. Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director of the Port of Kiel (SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG) said “more cruises start and end in Kiel than in any other German port. In order to cement our market position medium and long-term, we are investing in the expansion of our capacities”. Currently, Kiel boasts two berths for big cruise ships at the Ostseekai and has further terminal capacities for ships up to 200 m in length at Norwegenkai and Schwedenkai. The Ostuferhafen plans are being unveiled to the trade at the cruise shipping fair Seatrade Europe.
Berth No 1 at the Ostuferhafen has a quay length of 380 m and a consistent water depth alongside of 9.50 m. As part of the expansion work it is planned to install new fenders and passenger gangways. Passenger and luggage handling will take place on an area of more than 3,000 m² and the former Warehouse No. II, acquired by the Port of Kiel just this summer, will be transformed into a passenger handling terminal. “We are offering shipping companies and passengers a very good overall package in the Ostuferhafen – one with a very special atmosphere”, said Dirk Claus. “We are modelling ourselves on the already well-established solutions at other ports in northern Europe.” From a transport point of view, the new cruise ship berth is almost ideally located for connection to the motorway network and more than 400 long-stay parking places are available directly at the handling building. The Ostuferhafen also meets ISPS Code port safety demands and has all the required supply and waste management facilities.
The SEEHAFEN KIEL operates Kiel’s commercial port on behalf of the Schleswig-Holstein state capital, of which it is a 100% subsidiary. This year the port will host 120 visits by 19 different cruise ships. As of now, more than 360,000 passengers have boarded or disembarked. The season closes on October 12th, when the “AIDAcara” leaves Kiel for Copenhagen. The Port of Kiel is unveiling its Ostuferhafen berth plans on the “Destination Germany” community stand at the Seatrade Europe Cruise Convention, which is taking place between September 27th and 29th.