Berlin (dpa) – Germany’s ports are to be upgraded. To this end, the Federal Government has launched a National Ports Strategy. German ports are to be made fit for the future, said Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing. Ports are not only of outstanding economic importance, they also have a key role to play in the energy transition.
According to the strategy, German sea and inland ports are of great economic and strategic importance as “hubs of maritime and continental supply chains”. Some 60 percent of Germany’s imports and exports are transported by sea. By far the largest and most important port in the country is Hamburg, followed by Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven.
Ports are not just important as trans-shipment centres, however. They are also hubs for the energy transition, i.e. the gradual departure from fossil fuels such as gas and coal. Cuxhaven is a key player here, for example: according to the German Wind Energy Association, 80 percent of the rotor blades required for wind turbines arrive via this port. Since current capacity is fully utilised, the port of Cuxhaven is now to be expanded.
