The Port of Kiel now has a third berth for large cruise ships, according to a news release issued by the port.

During a ceremony in the Ostuferhafen on Sunday morning June 9th the new Berth 1 cruise ship handling facility was officially opened just after the arrival of Holland America Line’s Eurodam. On the gangway to the ship a ribbon was cut to officially mark the start of cruise ship handling operations at the new berth. 

It was cut jointly 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, Dr Dirk Claus, Managing director of the Port of Kiel and Captain Henk Keijer.

Dirk Claus said” “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. 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.”

Berth 1 in the Ostuferhafen was revamped this spring to make it possible to handle very big cruise ships. A water depth of 10m was created along the entire 400 metre quayside and parts of the seabed were also reinforced. On the quayside itself, extensive fendering was installed which is suitable for passenger ships.

Passengers board or leave their ship via a new gangway. The facility has been adapted to meet the requirements of the ISPS Code on port safety. The renovation of Berth 1 is part of a EUR 5.4 million Ostuferhafen development project aimed at expanding freight and logistics 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. During a reception on board this morning, State Secretary Müller-Beck handed over the authorisation certificate to Claus.

“This third cruise shipping berth is of major importance to the Port of Kiel because ships carrying up to 4,000 passengers can be handled here”, he said. “We are creating the infrastructure conditions which will enable us to be a part of cruise tourism growth in northern Europe,” he added.