The Port of Esbjerg expands facilities
by 650,000 m2 and 1 km quays

The Port of Esbjerg responds to increasing demand for facilities for both shipping and energy purposes by investing additional 500 million DKK in port capacity

Over the past years, the Port of Esbjerg - Denmark’s largest port in terms of m2 - has experienced a substantial increase in the demand for port facilities. In order to meet this demand, the Port’s board of directors has decided to launch an expansion of the Port of Esbjerg by approx. 650,000 m2.

The board has decided to expand the existing port facilities through the construction of a new port section - to be named “East Port”. The new East Port will provide additional 650,000 m2 and 1 km quays to meet increasing demand. The expansion will be based on the multi-purpose concept allowing hinterland and quays to be as flexible as possible and enabling the port to respond to changes in the demand. For the past decade, the multi-purpose concept has been essential to the positive development of the port’s business, and the port will apply the concept also in the future.

The new East Port facilities will involve a 500 million DKK investment. An investment of this size must be submitted for competitive tendering within the EU, which will take place in spring 2011. The estimated construction period will run from 2011 until the end of 2013.

“We expect the North Sea offshore wind market to boom in the coming years. England, Germany and the Netherlands have launched ambitious programs with regard to offshore wind, and we also anticipate growth in our home market. Taking into account the positive development in our other areas of business, we are convinced that the demand for the facilities of the Port of Esbjerg will increase in future, and we are determined to meet our customers’ requirements to and demand for capacity, access roads and infrastructure in general”, says Ole Ingrisch, director at the Port of Esbjerg.

In addition to cementing its leading position in the field of energy, the Port of Esbjerg also plans to increase the number of short sea routes between Esbjerg and other European ports in order to shift cargo from road to sea and reduce pollution. After a period of decrease in the turnover of unitized goods (trailers and containers) due to the financial crisis, the Port of Esbjerg once again experiences an increase in unitized goods turnover.

Furthermore, the investment in the new East Port is supported by the fact that the extension of the Danish highway E20 into the port area will be completed by the end of 2012.

“Even during the financial crisis the Port’s customers and the activities in the Port have demonstrated remarkable crisis resistance. Although the cargo turnover went down slightly in 2010 compared to 2009, the Port of Esbjerg expects to present a good 2010 result. 2010 was a year of consolidation, and in 2011 we expect to be back on the growth track. An investment of this size clearly shows that the Port of Esbjerg is an important player - not only in Southern Jutland but in Denmark”, says Flemming N. Enevoldsen, chairman of the board of directors of the Port of Esbjerg.

24 January 2011

For further information please contact:
Ole Ingrisch, Port Director, +45 40 57 43 00