Development of the Port of Kolding

By Niels-Henrik Jensen

The Port of Kolding is among ten largest ports of Denmark. These years the port experiences rapid development and in a three year period it has achieved an increase of 15 per cent in the amount of goods handled. Among the most important categories of goods loaded and discharged are grain, feedstuff, wood, iron and paper. With its geographical position the Port of Kolding is on its way to becoming the Baltic Seaport of Southern Denmark. At present liner services have been established to several destinations in the Baltic area, and there are more to come. The developing areas of the Baltic in particular attract Harbour Master Kim Sandahl's interest. "In these areas we are to find many of our future business partners", he says and then ensures that the port is ready to do its best for the new customers. "However", the Harbour Master continues, "good customers make demands, and the board of the port is aware of that. Therefore, it has just decided to invest 25 million EUR in new construction projects in the harbour and in the infrastructure adjacent to the harbour. Development is the key word for the port. We expect an expansion of the harbour area by 40 per cent over a twenty year period. The expansion will, among other things, provide space for a new RoRo terminal with marshalling areas and a transport centre with facilities for transshipment and storage of goods as well as welfare buildings". The infrastructure of the port will be improved by the construction of new roads and bridges. Finally, the accessibility of the main road system will be improved by traffic changes.

"We go to great lengths in our co-operation with our customers", says Kim Sandahl, and as an example he points out a truck with a 43 meter wind turbine arm passing by the windows of his office. "Such a consignment is really 'long vehicle', and in order to get to the quayside we had to establish a special entrance to the harbour. The shipping of the turbine arms is an evidence of a good transportation system that the port is linked to. Having also the railway tracks in the harbour area connected to the trans-European railroads, we can offer three modes of conveyance: road, rail and ship".