Port of Hamburg completes Vorhafen Harbor Basin project

The widening of the basin entrance now allows for bigger vessels to pass through safely and efficiently.    The Hamburg Port Authority officially completed the redesign on the Vorhafen harbor basin access.
   Three phases were completed, beginning with a four-hectare site of soil removed to create more water surface area at the Tollerort tip, the port authority said. The soil was used to back-fill the remainder of the Kohlenschiffhafen harbor basin, allowing more room within Container Terminal Tollerort.
   The second phase involved a new 250-meter quay wall at the Tollerort tip and reinforcement of the quay wall at Europakai.
   The final phase reinforced the quay wall at Lotsenhoft.
   The combined result now allows for longer inbound and outbound tidal windows, larger vessels to berth at the Cruise Center Altona and additional waiting berths for feeder vessels to reduce vessel movements.
   The Vorhafen harbor basin is the main approach to the cargo terminals in Steinwerder.
   Previously, only vessels with a maximum beam width of 370 meters were allowed to enter the basin, but the now-completed project allows vessels with a beam width of 400 meters.
   Overall, the safety of incoming and outgoing vessels has increased along with flexibility and maneuverability within the Tollerort area, the port authority said.