The inland port is one of the most characteristic places on Heligoland. Located between the town center, large port facilities and the famous lobster shacks, it is also a place of work, a port of call for research vessels and a tourist meeting point. However, after the harbor was transferred from the federal government to the municipality of Heligoland, it became apparent that there was a considerable need for renovation. Some of the water areas had not yet been cleared of ordnance, the depth of the water restricted its use and the south-eastern shore had been closed for safety reasons since the 1990s. The aim of the project was to technically upgrade the inland port and secure its long-term use. The client is the municipality of Helgoland, represented by Hafenprojektgesellschaft Helgoland.
TePm took on the classic project management and funding management for several interlinked sub-measures. These included the explosive ordnance sounding and dredging to deepen the water areas, the replacement construction of the south-east bank and later the upgrading of the wooden boardwalk on the south-west bank, which is heavily used by tourists. We organized the tendering process, supervised planning and construction and managed deadlines, costs and quality throughout the entire project. The financing of the project was also secured through comprehensive funding management.
The technical preparation of the construction work was particularly challenging. The combination of explosive ordnance clearance, sediment dredging and unstable bank areas required unusual solutions. For example, the existing south-eastern bank was first stabilized using an injection process before new structures could be built in front of it. An additional challenge lay in dealing with the contaminated sediment from the harbor basin. Here it was necessary to develop suitable disposal methods, involve specialist experts and coordinate the measures closely with the responsible approval authorities.
Today, the inland port is much more efficient and versatile. Research vessels from the Alfred Wegener Institute, seaside resort ships and tourist attractions benefit equally from additional berths and improved conditions. At the same time, the modernized jetty around the Hummerbuden has further strengthened a special place on the island – as a maritime meeting point for locals and guests.
Image source: Falmstudios, Jakob Martens
The expansion of the inland port of Heligoland, in particular the upgrading of the southeast quay, was funded by the European Union (ERDF), the federal government and the state of Schleswig-Holstein as part of the state’s economic program (2014-2020).
