Pressemitteilungen

Kiel, January 15, 2010: Despite the difficult economic climate, the Port of Kiel handled 4.86 million tons of cargo in 2009, nearly reaching its 2008 handling figure of 4.91 million tons. However, individual business sectors developed in different ways. The handling of bulk cargo, containers and conventional breakbulk bound Lithuania was up while ferry traffic to and from Scandinavia and Russia posted declining volumes. Dirk Claus, MD of the Port of Kiel (SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co KG) said “our partners and customers also responded well to the difficult economic situation. Kiel can already boast a broad pallet of activity and that is what made the almost balanced 2009 cargo handling result possible. In addition the successful launch of container services has made the port even more versatile than before”. Kiel was in fact even able to show a small increase in the passenger transport sector, handling 1.88 million passengers in 2009 against 1.85 million in 2008 as the port’s significance as a sea tourist hub also continues to grow.
 
Ostuferhafen leads port cargo handling 
 
In terms of cargo handling, the Ostuferhafen is the strongest facility in the Port of Kiel, handling 2.3 million tons last year, 11% more than in the previous year. In March 2009, regular container handling began in the Ostuferhafen. The new container business is based on the import of ferro-alloys, which are high-value supplements for the west European steel industry and reach Kiel via Riga from Kazakhstan. “There are good prospects for a future expansion of container business at the Ostuferhafen”, said Dirk Claus. In 2009 the port took a brand-new mobile port crane into service which can also be used for the handling of project and heavy load cargo. The Kiel-Klaipeda liner shipping service also posted strong growth in cargo volumes. The introduction of Lithuania’s biggest and most modern RoPax ferry, “Lisco Maxima”, in May had a positive influence on that growth. Dirk Claus said “the new ship has been well-received by the market and is making an important contribution to efforts to relocate traffic from road to sea”.

Sea tourism continues to grow
 
In 2009 Kiel further consolidated its position as Germany’s most popular cruise shipping port. There were 115 calls by 21 different cruise ships. For the first time, more than 290,000 travellers left or boarded cruise ships in Kiel. “We can look back on a successful cruise shipping season, in which the tonnage of the ships which called at the port rose by a third”, said Dirk Claus. The trend to very big cruise ships continues. At peak periods, the Ostseekai Cruise Terminal alone was handling more than 9,000 passengers inside just a few hours. According to current information, Kiel will this year again surpass its previous good figures. To date, 138 ship calls have been registered for the summer cruise season 2010, which will open on April 28th with the arrival of the “Mona Lisa”. Visiting Kiel for the first time this year will be the “AIDAcara”, which is expected at the Ostseekai on no fewer than 21 occasions. The most frequent guests however will be the vessels of the MSC Shipping Company, among them “MSC Poesia”. Dirk Claus said “in 2010 we want to well surpass the 300,000 mark for cruise ship passengers”. 
 
Schwedenkai Terminal shows prospects
 
The most important investment project in the Port of Kiel currently is the construction of the new passenger terminal at Schwedenkai. The terminal’s external construction will be completed in just a few weeks, so that the building will be ready for occupation in summer. The most important user will be Sweden’s Stena Line, which operates the Kiel-Gothenburg ferry service from the port. “The new Schwedenkai offers the highest handling quality for passengers and in addition improves traffic movements on the terminal site”, said Dirk Claus. “We are investing in the future of the port and its customers”.

The 12-storey terminal, which is costing about 18 million Euros, will provide Kiel with a new architectural landmark interface between fiord and city centre. The office tract being created on the upper storeys of the building, above the handling levels, will contain modern offices with unique views of the sea. Eighty per cent of the offices have already been let. A generous and freely accessible terrace will mean that visitors as well as passengers will be able to enjoy the terminal’s special atmosphere and views.

The SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG operates Kiel’s commercial port on behalf of the Schleswig-Holstein state capital of Kiel, of which it is a 100% subsidiary. Kiel boasts three combined terminals for ferry and cruise ships – Ostseekai, Schwedenkai and Norwegenkai – all close to the city centre. In the cargo handling sector, Kiel is a hub for trade with Norway and western Sweden as well as with the Baltic states and Russia. Kiel’s cargo centre is the Ostuferhafen, where services operating to and from the eastern Baltic as well as container handling are concentrated. Along with its role as an international transit hub, the Port of Kiel also serves as an important supplier of products like fuel and building materials to its region.

Dr. Dirk Claus Managing Director  Port of Kiel		Containerhandling in Kiel  Photo: P. Lühr		Ferry- and Cruiseships in the city harbour Photo: F.Behling

Lisco Maxima on the route Kiel-Klaipeda		The new building Schwedenkai by night		The new building Schwedenkai

Port of Kiel - SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG		Press Release as PDF						Sailing List 2010