Huge growth in the use of inland waterway vessels at the Port of Hamburg is leading to a significant reduction in the number of lorry loads per day, according to a press release from the port, therefore making an important contribution to climate protection.
In the first half of 2008, inland waterway vessels carried a total of 6m tonnes of goods, including agricultural products, an increase of 6.5 per cent compared with the same period last year and the highest volume since 1990.
With regard to containerised transport, the vessels handled 63,800 TEU, which represents an increase of 47 per cent over the year-earlier period, replacing approximately 200 lorry loads per day.
According to the Port of Hamburg, in view of the port’s dramatic growth in container shipments, which has seen volumes almost double in the last 20 years, upgrades to infrastructure remain crucial.
“Seaport to hinterland transport by inland waterway vessel is an environmentally friendly solution, and holds great potential for meeting future transport demands,” the company stated.
