A second handling centre for cruise ship passengers and their baggage is being built at Kiel’s Ostseekai Cruise Shipping Terminal at a cost of €7.5 mill.
Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director of Seehafen Kiel, said: “Sea tourism is a strong growth market sector for the port of Kiel. With a second terminal building, we will be in a position to expand our capacities and increase handling quality.”
Previously, two ships were handled at one terminal at Ostseekai, however in future, every ship will have her own handling terminal.
Claus added: “We are taking a great leap forward against a background of ever more visits by cruise ships and increases in the sizes of those ships. A terminal for every ship berth means the best possible service for shipping companies and passengers.”
Construction work is expected to begin in August this year. Completion and operation will follow next spring at the start of the 2019 cruise ship season. It will be a 3,700 sq m two-storey terminal building designed by architects Hillenkamp & Roselius within the framework of a co-operative workshop process.
“The multi-phase workshop process format was seen as particularly suitable for this task because of the specific functional demands” said the Head of the Municipal Planning and Building Control Office, Doris Grondke. “I am delighted that joint discussions with the port resulted in the realisation of such an eye-catching concept for this important site on the fjord.”
“We are increasingly opening up the port and turning what is happening around the big ships into a living experience for the public,” said Claus. “The new terminal building will replace two existing baggage halls. This is something which also has town planning significance.”
