Port of Hamburg

Infobox_Company | company_name = Hafen Hamburg - Port of Hamburg| company_| company_type = Aktiengesellschaft AG | company_slogan = Gateway to the World | foundation = 1189 by Frederick I | location = Hamburg, Germany| key_people = | num_employees = 10,000 (2004) | industry = Logistics| services = Shippings
Packing | revenue = ) | homepage = [http://www.hafen-hamburg.de/index.php?lang=en www.hafen-hamburg.org]
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The Port of Hamburg is a seaport and deep water harbour off the North Sea, on the river Elbe in Hamburg, Germany. It is named Germany's "Gateway to the World" and is the largest port in Germany. In terms of numbers of containers handled in 2004, it is the second-largest in Europecite news|work=Lloyds List Daily Commercial News|last=Van Marle|first=Gavin|pages=8-9|date=2008-01-31|title=Europe Terminals stretched to limit] and ninth-largest worldwide. In 2007, 9.8 million containers were handled in Hamburg, a ten percent increase on 2006. The harbour covers an area of 73.99 km² (64.80 km² usable), of which 43.31 km² (34.12 km²) are land areas. The location is naturally advantaged by a branching Elbe, creating an ideal place for a port complex with warehousing and transshipment facilities. The extensive free port also enables toll-free shipping. Since the harbour is located in a distance of 110 kilometres from the mouth of the Elbe, some ships at times have difficulties accessing the port. Deepening of the river Elbe in response is very controversial for ecological reasons. In part due to cooperation with Lower Saxony and Bremen to build a new container port ("JadeWeserPort") in the deep waters of Jadebusen in Wilhelmshaven, Hamburg withdrew from this plan after a change of government in 2001. A new city quarter named HafenCity is under construction north of the harbour.

History

The history of the port is as old as that of Hamburg itself. Founded in 1189 by Frederick I for its strategic location, it has been Central Europe's main port for centuries and enabled Hamburg to develop into a leading trading city with a rich and proud bourgeoisie. During the second half of the 19th century, Hamburg became Central Europe's main hub for transatlantic passenger and freight travel, and from 1871 onward, it was Germany's principal port of trade. During the division of Germany, Hamburg harbour lost most of its hinterland, but since reunification and the European enlargement, the trade volume is growing strongly again.

See also

* Hanseatic League
* Hamburg America Line
* Moldauhafen

References

External links

* [http://www.hafen-hamburg.de/index.php?lang=en Port of Hamburg Website]
* [http://www.hk24.de/servicemarken/englische_website/location_politics/port.jsp Hamburg Chamber of Commerce] Port of Hamburg: Facts, figures, and outlook
* [http://www.hafencity.com/index.php?set_language=en HafenCity Website]
* [http://www.elbphilharmonie.de/index.php?language=en The Elbe Philharmonic Hall] Currently under construction in the HafenCity
* [http://www.volkskunst-hafencity.de/?la=en Arts in the HafenCity]