Ports Senator Schilling: Infrastructure in need of further upgrading


Last year, for the first time in the history of the container terminal, more containers were transported on rail than on road. This is one of the findings stated in “Facts & Figures 2021”, which has now been published by the Senator for Science and Ports and the port management company bremenports. While 1097 million containers reached their destinations by truck in 2021, a total of 1112 million containers were carried on Bremen’s terminal railway.


“This increase in environmentally friendly rail traffic confirms the long-term trend,” commented Dr Claudia Schilling, Senator for Science and Ports. “At the same time, it proves that our endeavours to upgrade Bremen’s terminal railway are bearing fruit. And that is why we are preparing further investments in our rail network.” To enable further growth, however, it is vital that the federal government also makes the refurbishment of rail infrastructure a matter of top priority. “Statements made by Deutsche Bahn that those projects in the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan that are of crucial importance for Bremen, such as upgrading the “America Line” or electrification of the evb line, will not begin until the middle of the next decade are harmful for the port locations and consequently also for the German economy,” said Senator Schilling. She added, “That is why it is essential to ensure that the much touted “new project speed in Germany” is also put into practice in the rail sector.”


Another aspect of the comprehensive data presented in Facts & Figures refers to the urgent need to upgrade the waterside infrastructure. There has been a further significant increase in the number of ships with a draught of more than 12.50 metres. Last year, a total of 212 of these gigantic container vessels called at Bremerhaven and accounted for a significant share of the cargo units handled at the riverside quay. “If the port is to remain competitive in future, it is essential that the federal government ensures that the current planning process for adjusting the navigation channel is brought to a swift and successful conclusion,” stated Senator Schilling.


Facts & Figures provides comprehensive documentation of the preceding year’s events at the ports. In 2021, 5945 vessels called at the ports in the Federal Land of Bremen. Total throughput amounted to 69,695 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 3 million tons. Facts & Figures also contains detailed data about the infrastructure at the ports of Bremen. 
Facts & Figures is available as a download at bremenports.de/mediathek/.  
   

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