The port of Hamburg plans the construction of a third cruise terminal. The growing number of passenger vessel callings makes[ds_preview] it necessary for the German port to expand its cruise terminal capacity. The new facility is due to be open in summer 2015 and will cost about 75mill. €. Hamburg’s federal state government is expected to endorse the project in February. If it will do so, the construction of the third cruise terminal would start in April.
In contrast to both existing cruise terminals Grasbrook in the HafenCity and the Altona terminal, the new facility will be located at the Kronprinzkai in Steinwerder. This area is situated on the southern shores of the river Elbe and was formerly used as a container terminal. According to Frank Horch, Hamburg’s senator of commerce, the facility will have two terminal buildings (for incoming and outgoing passengers), a baggage hall, ample parking spaces, and a separate landing stage for local passenger ferries that will link the new cruise center to the city.
The location is fewer than 2km away from many of the main sights in the center and a short ride by ferry. Traveling time to the international airport will take about half an hour and for passengers driving to their ship or excursions beyond the city it is an advantage that the new terminal is close to two motorways. That means that they don’t have to travel through the city.
In connection with the new cruise center it should give a realignment of the port’s whole cruise business. A new venture will be set up jointly by Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and Hamburg Airport to take over operations at the city’s three cruise terminals.
According to HPA director Jens Meier, smaller passenger vessels should mainly arrive at the two existing terminals in the HafenCity and in Altona after finishing the building process of the new facility. This year Hamburg expects 191 cruise calls. Last year the port handled 173 vessels with about 600.000 passengers on board. Estimates say that Hamburg could double passenger count within a decade and pass the one million mark in 2021.
In addition to the third cruise terminal in Steinwerder, the one at Grasbrook is about to be modernized. Designed by Massimiliano Fuksas, the new building will be a cruise terminal including a hotel. It comprises two berths – one of 295m and the other of 330m length. The new terminal with a total surface of approximately 3,000m2 will cover two floors. Further, a two-storied underground parking and spaces for coaches and taxis are planned. The start of construction is expected for 2016 and will be finished in 2018. The investor should be announced in autumn.
