Port of Hamburg’s deepening project goes as planned

The dredger was built in 2018, with a capacity of over 16,000 cubic metres; consequently having a highly efficient performance level.

The port informs that the holding area close to Brunsbüttel, the widening work on the WSV, the federal waterways and shipping stretch have been finalized. Following the 300 to 320 metres widening project from Wedel to down river from the mouth of the River Stör, now, vessels with a combined width of 92 metres can now pass each other.

Moreover, the holding area is for ships sailing tide-dependent that threaten to run out of the tidal window; Thus, the holding area helps the vessels sit out the low tide phase. Additionally, the holding area is also used as an emergency anchorage for lager vessels, as in case of an incident they have to leave the fairway, but have nowhere else to go.

The port launched in November a traffic control centre, which manages the holding area.

In the meantime, "Scheldt River", the hopper dredger, started the deepening at the beginning of October. The fairway on the federal WSV stretch is planned to be deepened by an average of one metre.

The last of the UWA sites, located at the Scheelenkuhlen is now being set up; The surrounding wall has a length of about 2,600 metres. In total, some 878,000 tons of spoil mixture will be deposited here. This site has a capacity of approximately 1.7 million cubic metres for the spoil from Schwarztonnensand at the Lateral Elbe. 

The "Bonny River" is setting the WSV part of the passing box, with a width of 385 metres, facilitating oncoming traffic of up to four mega-containerships. As the project will be finished in early 2020, vessels will see the benefits of the reduced traffic at that time; Yet, the port notes that the full benefits will fully emerge when all dredging is finished in 2021.

Additional compensatory measures concerning ecological projects are being conducted as well. The earth-moving work in Lower Saxony on the island of Schwarztonnensand as well as on various polders on the River Stör in Schleswig-Holstein have been completed. The dredging work for the most extensive aquatic nature protection measures at Schwarztonnensand/Lateral Elbe, contracted out together with construction of the UWA Scheelenkuhlen, will begin in spring 2020.

Overall, the fairway adjustment project is going according to plan, so that completion at the end of the coming year remains firmly in focus.