Denmark's Largest Harbour Further Expands
The Port of Esbjerg's 650,000 sq. m expansion of Østhavn (“East Harbour”) opens to consolidate its position as a leading North Sea port for the wind turbine industry.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Esbjerg, Johnny Søtrup and the Danish Minister of Transport, Henrik Dam Kristensen.
Representatives from the wind turbine industry will be the first to move into the new area, which features facilities specially designed for testing, pre-assembly and shipping of offshore wind turbines. Yet the Østhavn is also designed to accommodate the needs of the oil and gas industry, as well as trailer (ro-ro) and container operators.
"Handling offshore wind turbine traffic has become more and more demanding with respect to infrastructure and harbour facilities. Our new Østhavn is big enough for even the largest of wind turbines. Having that capacity is crucial in the ever-more competitive market for offshore wind projects," says Port Director Ole Ingrisch.
"The development in the energy sector is rapid, and we experience a huge demand of offshore wind turbines in the North Sea. It is therefore essential that the Port of Esbjerg had vision and foresight to for instance expand the harbour. We are now not only able to meet demands but also to take an active part in shaping the future development," added Mayor Johnny Søtrup.