Cuxhaven Strengthens Offshore Industry with Heavy-Duty Bridge

The economic location of Cuxhaven continues its growth trajectory. Construction work to expand the Cuxhaven port began in early February. By the end of 2028, the new berths 5 to 7 are to be completed – a significant step to enhance the port as a logistics hub for offshore and onshore wind energy projects, making it even more efficient and effective.

(Cuxhaven) The expansion is not only of great interest to the offshore industry. There is already a growing demand for additional space for logistics, industrial settlements, and production facilities. The positive growth prospects in the field of wind energy, both on land and at sea, indicate that the demand for space will continue to rise.

“The manufacturing of offshore wind turbines is progressing further. In the future, we will increasingly experience local production and the refinement of large components by international suppliers. We also have additional space needs as our production volumes increase and the turbines become larger,” says Kristoffer Mordhorst, plant manager of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energies.

To meet the growing space requirements, around 130 hectares of new commercial space are to be created as part of the F90 project between the districts of Groden and Altenbruch. The area is closely linked to the development of the port, where several companies have already settled for the production of wind turbines or plan to do so in the near future. “For offshore wind projects in the North and Baltic Seas, Cuxhaven, with its logistical capabilities, is the ideal location as a base port. The decision for the selection of the base port for foundations and other components is essentially made based on the available space and the associated quay edges. In this context, an expansion of commercial space is absolutely sensible,” emphasizes Heiko Mützelburg, managing director of the monopile manufacturer Titan Wind Energy in Cuxhaven.

Support from the Port Economic Community

The initiative receives backing from the Port Economic Community (HWG), which particularly welcomes the planned construction of a new heavy-duty bridge. The structure is intended to span the railway tracks of the Hamburg-Cuxhaven route and significantly improve logistical connections. The bridge will ensure a direct link between the handling and commercial areas as well as the Siemens Gamesa plant behind the quay line and the federal highway 73 – a crucial improvement for the logistics infrastructure. “A heavy-duty bridge specifically tailored to the needs of the offshore industry would significantly strengthen the competitiveness of the location,” explains Arne Ehlers, chairman of the Port Economic Community (HWG) and managing director of BlueWaterBREB.

Transport of the Heaviest Offshore Components Made Much More Efficient

The planned bridge, which is expected to have a load capacity of 15 tons per square meter, could make the transport of even the largest and heaviest offshore components significantly more efficient – a major advantage for the maritime economy in the region. The bridge will enable the use of Self Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMT) – self-propelled transport vehicles that can be flexibly configured for various weights and dimensions. “With these highly specialized transport carriers, we will be able to move practically any type of heavy load in the future – regardless of the size or weight of the individual component,” explains Claudius Schumacher, deputy chairman of the HWG and managing director of Rhenus Cuxport.

The heavy-duty bridge is not only essential for the offshore industry but also has far-reaching significance for the entire port and logistics economy in Cuxhaven. The new connection will strategically distribute heavy traffic over two routes, which should noticeably relieve traffic flows in the port area. At the same time, the production and assembly capacities on site will be strengthened, making the location even more attractive for international suppliers and producers.

A Central Building Block for the Further Development of the Offshore Industry

The planned infrastructure measure is considered a central building block for the further development of the offshore industry in Cuxhaven. It prepares Cuxhaven for the next generation of offshore components and ensures that the city remains competitive as a leading location in the wind energy sector in the long term.

Graphic: © Stadt Cuxhaven/AfW / Caption: The new heavy-duty bridge will connect the handling and commercial areas with the Siemens Gamesa plant and the federal highway 73