BUSY NORDDEICH MAKES ROOM FOR SHIPS

Lengthening of the eastern mole in the German North Sea port of Norddeich has created more berths writes Tom Todd.

In two-phase construction over 14 months, the mole at the entrance to the small port has been lengthened to 140m, providing an additional four tide-independent berths for crew transfer and supply ships serving offshore wind farms and other shipping.

Niels Kämpny, who is responsible for industry and maritime economy in the Lower Saxony state government transport ministry, said at the inauguration of the new mole that “demands on the port of Norddeich have grown in recent years. The investment now in additional berths opens up greater prospects for the development of its maritime economy”, he added.

Lower Saxony ploughed about €1.4 million into the capacity expansion through its port operating concern NPorts. NPorts said the investment was needed because Norddeich is attracting increased offshore service work as well as island passenger and cargo traffic.

Because of flood restrictions on coastal construction work between October and April, the eastern mole project has been carried out in two phases by the German concern Thiieling Bau in Stadland near Wilhelmshaven.

A steel sheet piling wall was built and back-anchored to create a raised quayside area about ten metres wide. Because it is very close to the Lower Saxony tidal flats National Park – across which people can walk to the island of Norderney when conditions are right - a special stone screen wall was erected to protect flora and fauna.

Supply ship activity in Norddeich has risen as wind farms have been built offshore. NPorts reported that up to ten vessels had utilised berths in Norddeich and on Norderney since 2005. The offshore windfarms Borkum Riffgrund, with 78 turbines, as well as Godewind 1 and 11 (with 96 turbines) and Nordsee One with 54 turbines, are all currently served from Norderney.

As well as offshore business Norddeich maintains regular RoPax and RoRo passenger/cargo ferry links with nearby Norderney as well as with other East Frisian islands. It is also a base for excursion boats, fishing vessels and workboats owned by local authorities as well as for many sports vessels and records a total of some 19,000 arrivals and departures every year.