The first parts have been delivered to the Columbus peninsula
Assembly of the first new passenger boarding bridges for the cruise terminal has just begun at Columbus Quay in Bremerhaven. The Spanish engineering group ADELTE was commissioned with the design and construction of the new passenger boarding bridges by bremenports, the port management company. The first parts have now been delivered to the Columbus peninsula and will be assembled by employees of the Spanish company in the course of the next two months.
Installation of the three new passenger boarding bridges complements the project to build a new Columbus Quay which began in November 2021. The new quay for handling passenger shipping in Bremerhaven will be completed by autumn 2023. It will be 620 metres long and 20 metres wider than before, extending into the River Weser. The new PEGASUS boarding bridges are therefore substantially longer than the previous three which were installed almost two decades ago. The new passenger boarding bridges will enable the cruise terminal to cope with even the largest cruise vessels, including those with overhanging lifeboats. ADELTE will install the first bridge by April 2023 and another two will be assembled at the new Columbus Quay by the autumn of 2023.
“The new boarding bridges are attractive to look at and feature state-of-the-art technology, an unmistakable sign that Bremerhaven offers cruise vessels top conditions,” says Dr Claudia Schilling, Bremen’s Senator for Science and Ports. “The year 2022 has shown that Bremerhaven is now well established as a cruise location and I would like this trend to continue.” Robert Howe, Managing Director of bremenports, stressed that the construction of the new quay was completed absolutely on schedule. “Thanks to the excellent cooperation with the contractors, the bridges can be assembled ready for the quay to be used in the coming cruise season.”
With a length of 56 metres, the new seaport passenger boarding bridges are the longest PEGASUS models ever to be built. Each bridge consists of two glass-sided tunnel sections, a cabin and a module which connects it to the building. The technically sophisticated cabin can compensate all the movements of the ship during the mooring process. Electromechanical elevation systems in the columns allow the bridges to reach a boarding height of 16 metres above sea level. Thanks to the fully glazed tunnel, passengers can enjoy a panorama of the cruise ship and the quay when boarding.
