APM Terminals, a subsidiary of A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk), and Eurogate aim for and are in advanced negotiations for a long-term partnership under which they plan to invest one billion Euro in the modernisation of their joint container terminal North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven (NTB).

The one billion Euro investment aims to upgrade NTB into one of the world’s most efficient and resilient container handling facilities, with zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions operations. The plan is to modernise the equipment and increase the terminal’s capacity from 3 to 4 million TEU throughput annually.

Through the electrification of equipment and the use of renewable electricity, the terminal is intended to operate with zero GHG emissions, the first of its kind in Germany. The planned investments remain subject to internal and external approvals.

“Bremerhaven has unique potential to grow as a strategic hub in the region and to support cargo flows into Germany as well as our ocean network. Our investments are intended to realise the full potential of the terminal, making NTB one of the most competitive terminals in Europe’s North Range. We aim to future-proof the terminal over the long term, while strengthening the reliability and resilience of supply chains for the German economy,” says Vincent Clerc, CEO of A.P. Moller – Maersk.

“With our NTB terminal we can proudly look back on more than 25 years of successful partnership with Maersk and APM Terminals and look forward to continuing this success story together in the future,” says Michael Blach, Chairman of the EUROGATE Group Management Board. “The joint project to equip the terminal with state-of-the-art technology and decarbonise the operations, thereby making NTB fit for the coming decades, shows how convinced we are of the future success of Bremerhaven as a location in the global maritime trade network. The modernisation of the NTB sets standards and also secures many high-value jobs in the region in the long term.”

“The fact that Maersk, a global market leader, is so strongly committed to Bremerhaven is impressive proof of the efficiency of our ports and of EUROGATE,” says Andreas Bovenschulte, Mayor of Bremen. “I very much welcome Maersk’s intention to expand and intensify its 25 years of successful cooperation at the Bremerhaven site. With Maersk’s announced investments in the port’s superstructure and the state and federal government’s investments in the port infrastructure, Bremerhaven will be well positioned for the future and its importance in the North Range will be strengthened. Now it is up to the federal government to press ahead with the deepening of the Outer Weser and implement it quickly.”

In addition to the investments, the deepening of the Outer Weser river is an essential prerequisite for fully unlocking the potential of the upgraded terminal. A corresponding planning process is currently underway at the level of the public administration.

Source: APM Terminals