Port of Kiel Records a Satisfactory Result in Challenging Times

By | 2025 Newsletter week 04 | No Comments

With 7.6 million tonnes of cargo (-3.8%) and 2.7 million cruise and ferry passengers (-5%) handled, the port is only slightly behind the record results of the previous year.

While volumes on the Scandinavian ferry routes declined, freight volumes to the Baltic region and the Swedish paper business experienced significant growth.

As a consequence of the current economic slowdown in Scandinavia and Germany, volumes fell both on the route to Gothenburg (total cargo 1.97 million tonnes) and to Oslo (total cargo 774,000 tonnes).

The development is different at the Ostuferhafen, which accounts for almost half of the total throughput at the port of Kiel with 3.6 million tonnes handled.

The Baltic route experienced positive growth for the second year in a row and closed with 2.74 million tonnes (+4.5 %). The paper business also developed strongly, particularly at the beginning of the year, and closed with significant growth (total result 744,000 tonnes, + 10 percent).

Intermodal transport in the port of Kiel continued to suffer from the railway infrastructure in need of renovation and the constantly rising track prices in 2024, falling to 13,000 units.

An extension to the existing shore power system is currently under construction at the Ostseekai, one of Kiel’s two large cruise terminals. The port is also planning further investment projects, including the expansion of the port area, additional photovoltaic systems and e-charging stations for cars and lorries.

In total, the Port of Kiel plans to invest 70 million euros over the next five years.

More information: Port of Kiel

Port Of Kiel Can Nearly Maintain Its Cargo Transhipment Volumes

By | 2021 Newsletter week 4 | No Comments

A total of 6.92 million tons of cargo has been transhipped in the seaport of Kiel in 2020. This figure represents only a slight decrease of 1.2 %.

In contrast to a decrease of volumes in the Scheerhafen and at the Norwegenkai Terminal, there has been growth in the Ostuferhafen and at the Schwedenkai.

The ferry traffic to Sweden and Lithuania has proven to be particularly solid and has even seen a slight increase in transported cargo volumes. On the other side, Kiel registers a drop in the passenger traffic. Due to Corona, only about 517,500 passengers boarded or left a cruise ship or ferry at the different terminals, which is a decrease of 78 %.

Kiel expects a normalisation of the situation from late spring resp. summer onwards.

Port of Kiel: Ferry Traffic Contributing More and More to Overall Transshipment Rate

By | 2020 Newsletter Week 4 | No Comments

The Port of Kiel achieved a sound result last year, with cruise and ferry traffic still in growth modus.

The focus of investments lies on the implementation of the BLUE PORT strategy: shore power and intermodal traffic. Port of Kiel will be climate-neutral by 2030. “About €15 million are being invested in the construction of shore power plants. They will be ready in 2020. All three ferry and cruise terminals will be equipped. Color Line was the first to have shore power.

The core business of the port is the general cargo handled in the ferry traffic sector and with nearly 6 million tons it accounts for 85 % of the overall transhipment activities by now.

The biggest volume handled was on the DFDS Kiel – Klaipeda (Lithuania) service.

The additional freight ferry from Color Line has a positive impact on the route Kiel – Oslo whereas fewer unaccompanied trailers were transported between Kiel and Gothenburg.

FERRY PORTS

By | 2019 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

Port Of Kiel First Cold Ironing Facility Officially Inaugurated At The Norwegenkai

On 9 May the shore power facility was declared open by the Minister-President of the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther, the German Federal Government’s Coordinator for the Maritime Industry, Norbert Brackmann, and the Lord Mayor of Kiel Dr Ulf Kämpfer along with Dr Dirk Claus, the Managing Director of Seehafen Kiel GmbH & Co. KG) and Trond Kleivdal, Board Chairman of the Color Line.

With immediate effect, the Color Line’s big cruise-ferries can now be supplied with electric power from on shore.

Port Of Kiel: Ferry Routes With Different Volume Development In 2018

By | 2019 Newsletter week 4 | No Comments

The ferry traffic sector is the core business of the port and with 6 million tons, it makes up 80 % of the overall transhipment activities. While the liner services to Norway (+2.3 %) and to the Baltic States (+1.6 %) show growth, 10 % less tons of cargo were transported on the Kiel – Gothenburg route. One of the reasons is a long layover at the shipyard for STENA SCANDINAVICA.

The weekly liner service to and from Russia remained nearly at the same level due to continuing mutual restrictions on trade.

Again the biggest single volume was handled on the DFDS Kiel – Klaipeda service. Its frequency had even been augmented intermediately with an eighth and ninth departure in autumn.

Kiel was able to maintain its position last year with regard to the ferry traffic to the Baltic States, to West Sweden and Norway.

 

The Port of Kiel is currently investing more than 30 million in port expansion and environmental protection. Ostuferhafen will be redesigned by spring so that logistical processes can be optimized. Parking space for vehicles will be expanded.

The construction of the first onshore-power supply plant is in full swing in the city port. The plant, which will supply eco-friendly electricity to the vessels of Color Line, will be completed by Easter.

At the same time, a Europe-wide tender for onshore-power supply plants to be installed at Ostseekai and Schwedenkai, is being prepared.

FERRY PORTS

By | 2018 Newsletter week 30 | No Comments

Successful Port Of Kiel Has More Projects

Dr. Thilo Rohlfs, state secretary of the ministry for economy, transport, labour, technology and tourism for the country of Schleswig-Holstein, made use of a visit to the port of Kiel to learn more about the current port investment projects.

Today, the port of Kiel handles over 7 million tons of cargo and over 2 million passengers per year.

As part of a tour of the harbour, Port of Kiel’s managing director Dr. Dirk Claus informed the state secretary of the current investment plans:

  • Expand the pre-storage area for trucks at Ostuferhafen
  • Creation of a third switching track at Schwedenkai terminal
  • Creation of a shore power supply facility at Norwegenkai terminal

Photo Port of Kiel