News / Port of Hamburg sees Elbe dredging as crucial to regaining lost throughput

© Stephan Bock

The long-running saga of the deepening of the river Elbe will be decided this year by the German Federal Court, with dredging now expected to commence in 2017.

It has been calculated that the deepening of the Lower and Outer Elbe would enable an ultra-large container vessel (ULCV) to load around 1,800 teu more per call at the port of Hamburg.

Approval of the project, which also includes a 385-metre-wide passing point for vessels, has long been considered “essential” for the growth ...