Grand Council of Basel Approves Loan for Dock Basin 3

The Grand Council in Basel has clearly approved the loan for the construction of Dock Basin 3 amounting to 115.53 million francs with 78 votes in favor and 12 against. After the federal government has already laid the foundation for the further development of Basel as a transport hub at the national level, these funds now also create the necessary conditions at the cantonal level. This is a clear commitment to the port and logistics location Basel.

Basel, 12.02.2020) With today’s approval of the Grand Council for the loan for Dock Basin 3 amounting to 115.53 million francs, an important prerequisite has been fulfilled to further advance the port expansion and strengthen the logistics cluster in the Basel region. “We are pleased with this decision. A growing international trade and thus increasing container volumes make the construction of Dock Basin 3 unavoidable from the perspective of supply security for Switzerland,” says Chamber of Commerce Director Martin Dätwyler. Already today, seaports are expanding their terminal capacities to cope with the increase in container traffic. The Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan in Germany predicts a growth of 73 percent for inland shipping in container transport from 2010 to 2030. “It is thus inevitable that in the future, higher container volumes will also come to Switzerland via Rhine shipping. Goods should be transported to Switzerland by rail and not by truck from abroad,” comments Hans-Peter Hadorn, Director of Swiss Rhine Ports. The loan is tied to the construction of the rail terminal “Gateway Basel Nord,” which is to be built alongside the new Dock Basin 3.

Basel Region is a Significant Logistics Hub

To handle the higher container volumes, investments in modern port infrastructures are essential. Dätwyler explains: “This ensures that the Basel region remains a powerful logistics cluster in the future and can maintain its leading position in handling imports and exports.” With a new and more efficient logistics chain, not only the involved logistics companies but also companies with high foreign trade activity would benefit, believes André Auderset, Managing Director of the Swiss Association for Shipping and Port Economy (SVS). “It is noteworthy that access to the dock basin is guaranteed at all times without discrimination, i.e., for all providers, allowing customers to benefit from faster delivery times and a better offer.”

A Referendum is Looming

Shortly after the decision of the Basel Grand Council, a group of highly diverse stakeholders has come together against the construction of Dock Basin 3 and intends to initiate a referendum. The group includes the following associations and individuals: Pro Natura Basel, WWF Basel, Greenpeace Basel, Village Association Kleinhüningen, Grand Councillors Oliver Bolliger (BastA), Thomas Grossenbacher (Greens), Felix Wehrli (SVP), Roman Mayer, Chairman of the Board of Swissterminal, IG Schiffsführer Basel, Association Ökostadt Basel. The individual parties of this interest group could not be more different. It is also very surprising to see the participation of IG Schiffsführer in this group. The ship captains foresee significant technical problems arising for the shipping industry during entry and exit. Of course, the usual opponents of such large projects, such as those concerned with species protection or opponents of operational and traffic noise, are also represented in the group.

Photo: «©Patrik Walde»

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