The Port of Kiel can post positive results for 2014

The port turned over 6.43 million tons of cargo, 1.6 % more than in the previous year. Stena Line’s Kiel-Gothenburg route recorded the biggest increase in general cargo handling while Color Line’s Kiel-Oslo service posted the strongest growth in passengertransport. During the year a total of 1.98 million passengers started or ended a ferry or cruise ship journey in Kiel – an increase of 1.9 %. Dirk Claus,
Managing Director of the Port of Kiel (SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG) said:”along with the growth in transport to and from Scandinavia and a rise in bulk cargo handling, there was, however, a decline in business with eastern Europe.The port currently finds itself in a situation adversely affected by the crisis in the Ukraine, a weak Russian currency and new environmental regulations.” While ferry traffic to and from Scandinavia rose by a good 5 % to more than 2.7 million tons, eastern Europe transport showed similar decline to only just about 2.4 million tons. An important growth factor in 2014 has been bulk cargo handling – especially the handling of building materials. Thanks to the expansion of outdoor storage areas in the Scheerhafen, the port was able to handle 370,000 tons of loose gravel for the first time. “Kiel is ideally located to supply the construction industry in the whole of Schleswig-Holstein and as far as Hamburg”, said Dirk Claus. “The Scheerhafen is of great regional importance”, he declared. On the eastern bank of the Kiel Fiord work is meanwhile underway to expand the Ostuferhafen – Kiel’s cargo and logistics hub. Six hectares of additional area are being reclaimed there. Among other things, a new drainage system for the area is being created, interlocking concrete paving laid, lamp posts being erected and the site fenced in to comply with ISPS regulations. “We are creating urgently needed operational and outdoor storage areas to promote further growth in sectors such as forestry products”,
says Dirk Claus. The SEEHAFEN KIEL with the support of the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, is investing a total of about 12 million Euros in the Ostuferhafen. The work will be completed in the summer of 2015.