Bremerhaven, Germany

Port Overview

Bremerhaven is located on Germany’s North Sea coast at the mouth of the Weser River. It is the largest city on the German North Sea and forms part of the city-state of Bremen. Bremerhaven ranks as the fourth-largest container port in Europe and sixteenth globally, making it a key hub for international shipping and automobile transshipment. Its strategic position provides direct access to major North Sea shipping routes. The port handles approximately 5.5 to 5.7 million TEU annually, underscoring its importance in global maritime logistics.

Facilities & Infrastructure

Bremerhaven's main facilities include the Container Terminal, one of Europe's largest, with extensive quays and berths for mega-container vessels. The Auto Terminal is a major hub for vehicle handling, offering storage and service facilities. The port also features shipyards with repair and dry-docking capabilities. Equipment includes cranes and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to enhance efficiency in cargo handling.

Container Terminals

Bremerhaven’s container terminals feature 14 berths along nearly 5 kilometers of quay, with an annual capacity exceeding 5 million TEU. The port is partially automated, using advanced gantry cranes and straddle carriers, but is not fully automated. Major operators include North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven (NTB) and MSC Gate. Bremerhaven is one of Europe’s largest container hubs, handling mega-vessels and offering extensive intermodal connections.

Port Services

Main Services at Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven offers comprehensive port services including:

Container Handling: One of Europe's largest container terminals with nearly 5km of quayside and 14 berths for mega-vessels

Cargo Operations: Specializes in automobiles (over 1.6 million vehicles annually), temperature-controlled goods, fruits, heavy lift, and project cargo

Ship Services: Full shipyard facilities with repair capabilities and dry-docking

Warehousing: Storage for 100,000 vehicles (50,000 covered), cold storage for 33,000 pallets, and specialized warehousing facilities

Passenger Services: Modern cruise terminal accommodating up to 4,000 passengers with four simultaneous berths

Global Connectivity

Bremerhaven is a major North Sea port with direct deepwater access, connecting to over 130 ports worldwide. It serves as a key gateway for Northern and Central Europe, with strong feeder links to the Baltic States and Scandinavia, and direct shipping routes to Asia, North America, and other global markets. The port is integrated with extensive rail and highway networks, supporting efficient cargo movement to Germany’s industrial regions and beyond.

Port Statistics

Port of Bremerhaven, Germany

• TEU throughput (2024): 4,444,800
• World ranking: 46th largest container port
• Number of berths: 14 container berths
• Port area: Approximately 1,000 hectares
• Major shipping lines: Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, COSCO, Evergreen, ONE

Bremerhaven is a key North Sea hub with advanced intermodal links and ongoing modernization to support large container vessels.