JadeWeserPort (German pronunciation: [jaːdɛ veːsa port]) is the name of Germany's largest harbour project supported by the federal states of Lower Saxony (50.1% stake) and Bremen (49.9% stake) [1].
This new container port will be located at Wilhelmshaven at the Jade Bight, a bay on the North Sea coast. It will have a natural water depth in excess of 18 m and container ships with a length of 430 m and 16,5 m draught will be able to call the JadeWeserPort at any tide. Construction works have commenced in March 2008. The port is expected to be opened on 5 August 2012 with a partial capacity and on 5 August 2013 with full capacity.[2]
With only limited commercial activity in Wilhelmshaven's hinterland most containers will need further transportation by feeder vessels, railway or on the road. Expectations rest with the fact that JadeWeserPort will be the easternmost deep water port in Northern Europe able to berth the largest container vessels in present and future use up to a size of 12,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit). Therefore, it is hoped that a major share of the overseas container traffic of Scandinavian and Baltic nations including the western part of Russia will be handled here (map of feeder routes). Growth rates in container shipping are expected to at least remain at the present 7 % per year.
After a number of delays caused by legal and administrative reasons a court ruling of 8 March 2008 allows for the immediate commencement of construction work. Since then activities have started and a new time table has been issued. Land reclamation has started in May 2008 and pile driving for the wharf in August 2008. Also the construction of road and railway connections has started. It is foreseen to complete at least 1000 meters of the finally 1700 meters of the quay side by fall 2011 and to start port operations at this time.[3] Speedy construction work is required to secure European Union funds for the project of up to 50 million euros €.[4]
DB is upgrading the Wilhelmshaven–Oldenburg railway, to provide extra capacity for freight trains.[5]