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2009 proved to be a more difficult year for the Rostock ports, coming off the back of 2008’s record results. A total cargo throughput volume of 23 million tonnes was recorded in 2009 for all Rostock ports, down 5.6 million tonnes or 20% from the previous year. The Rostock Seaport accounted for 21.5 million tonnes of this result. An additional 1.5 million tonnes were moved through the Cargo and Fishery Port, Chemicals Port and additional port facilities.

Rostock Seaport

With a total gross cargo throughput volume of 21.5 million tonnes, the Rostock Seaport ended 2009 with 20% less cargo than in 2008. “Looking at the cargo throughput of the last 12 months, it was evident that the year started badly, and despite great efforts by the cargo handling companies at the port, this level could not be significantly improved”, comments Ulrich Bauermeister, Managing Director of Hafen-Entwicklungsgesellschaft Rostock mbH. All main cargo types at Rostock’s universal port exhibited decreases in 2009.

Liquid cargo handling decreased by 14% to 4 million tonnes. In the bulk goods segment, a slightly smaller decrease of 9% to 5.4 million tonnes was recorded. The greatest decrease was recorded in the general cargo segment, down 35% to 411,000 tonnes.

Rolling cargo – ferry and Ro-Ro cargo – performed similarly, down 26% from 16 million tonnes in 2008 to 11.8 million tonnes in 2009. Consequently the proportion of rolling cargo to total cargo throughput also declined, and comprised only 55% in 2009.

The number of ferry passengers carried on the lines to Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Latvia decreased by 300,000 to 2.1 million passengers. All in all, 8165 ferry, Ro-Ro, tankers, cargo vessels and cruise ships were cleared at the Rostock Seaport in 2009, ferries accounting for 5340 of this total.

Decreases in rolling cargo

In 2008, 13.7 million tonnes of ferry cargo and 2.3 million tonnes of Ro-Ro cargo rolled through the Rostock Seaport, while 2009 saw 10.2 million tonnes (-25%) and 1.5 million tonnes (-34%) respectively.

The number of trucks carried on the ferry and Ro-Ro connections from and to northern Europe fell from 419,748 in 2008 to 302,905 in 2009. The number of trailers likewise fell from 109,744 to 85,434. Similarly, railcars carried from and to Trelleborg declined from 17,178 in 2008 to 7,686 in 2009.

The terminal for intermodal transport recorded a total of 63,442 cargo units with a tonnage of 1.3 million tonnes. This represents a decrease of 8% compared to the previous year’s results. 25 block trains per week travel between Rostock Seaport and Verona (12), Duisburg/Hamburg (6), Basel (5), and Wels (2).

Paper handling at the Rostock Seaport fell from 470,000 tonnes in 2008 to 337,500 tonnes in 2009. The Rostock office of UPM Kymmene recorded 328,900 tonnes in 2009, while the logistics company Baltic Lloyd accounted for an additional 8,600 tonnes. UPM Kymmene Rostock imports paper from Finland and exports to the USA and England. Baltic Lloyd handles the paper import from Sweden from Stora Enso.

Investment projects of Hafen-Entwicklungsgesellschaft Rostock

Despite the downward trend in cargo throughput, Hafen-Entwicklungsgesellschaft stuck to its expansion and maintenance projects as planned, and invested 24.5 million Euros in port infrastructure in 2009. The new building of berths 35 and 36 were completed in 2009, with a total investment volume of 13 million Euros since 2007. Additional projects in 2009 included construction at berths 37 and 25 as well as the development of additional areas of the port grounds. An area of 5 hectares in the southern port grounds was developed for construction in 2009 with an investment volume of 1.6 million Euros. The construction of a transformer station at the Seaport was completed, preparing for the connection to the high-voltage grid in 2010. Additional investment projects in 2009 included the new building of the control unit for the feeding of the coal power plant for approx. 2 million Euros; the demolition of the “Fingerpier” in Warnemünde for approx. 1 million Euros; the modification of the pier at berth 53 for a new ferry service for approx. 1 million Euros. Running repair work of streets, utilities, tracks, surfaces, buildings and berths amounted to 2.6 million Euros.

For 2010, Hafen-Entwicklungsgesellschaft Rostock is planning a total investment volume of 35 million Euros. The northern expansion of Pier III accounts for 20 million Euros of this total. The construction for this new 12-hectare area will begin in March with the setting of sheet pile walls and filling in of land. The construction is planned to continue until 2012. Additional projects in 2010 include the modernisation of berth 5 and the pontoon at berths 3 and 4 in the Oil port for approx. 2 million Euros; completion of the 200-meter-long heavy load berth 25 for approx. 5 million Euros; construction and completion of the eastern roadway connection to the industrial zone in the adjacent area for around 2.5 million Euros; beginning of construction for the grey water disposal from cruise ships in Warnemünde in fall. By the 2011 season, approx. 1.7 million Euros for the land-side reception of ship’s waste water at the cruise ship berths will be invested. Additionally, the planning of the construction of a new ferry pier at berths 65 and 67 as well as for the connection of the eastern port grounds to the motorway will be undertaken.

Celebration for the 50th anniversary of the Seaport

On Sunday, 24 April, Hafen-Entwicklungsgesellschaft is putting on a celebration for the 50th anniversary of the Seaport. From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. festivities including a live stage program and party will be held at port basin B for the Rostock residents and their guests. The Rostock Seaport was officially opened on 30 April 1960.

Figures:  Rostock Seaport