Nordfrost Heavy Goods Hall Inaugurated at the Container Port of Wilhelmshaven

Last week, the inauguration of the new Nordfrost Heavy Goods Hall at the Container Port of Wilhelmshaven took place in a small circle, providing the German machinery and plant engineering sector with optimal conditions for shipping entire projects via Wilhelmshaven. At the same time, the laying of tracks for the own rail connection has begun.

(Wilhelmshaven) Two and a half years ago, Nordfrost started its project logistics business area. This involves designing the entire supply chain and organizing all necessary transports for various plant components up to oversized heavy goods, such as parts of entire production lines or other complex systems. The company responded to market demand, which became evident when players from the machinery and plant engineering sector, interested in shipping their goods via Wilhelmshaven, required and inquired about corresponding logistics services. An important service in this context is the so-called maritime packaging, with which Nordfrost subsequently began interim operations at its port facility in the inner port of Wilhelmshaven. From then on, export packaging made of wood was custom-built here, and parts were packed into the manufactured boxes or container sleds were expertly produced, on which large components for the sea journey are securely fixed in the container. Now, the experienced team of this business unit was able to move to the Container Port of Wilhelmshaven.

Space for Project Logistics on 8,000 m2

In June, the completion of the 8,000 square meter heavy goods hall on the Nordfrost seaport terminal site was completed on schedule after an eleven-month construction period. In the meantime, work on project logistics, including maritime packaging, has commenced at the new location. There is also plenty of space for stacking packages in containers or on flat racks and for interim storage. An additional approximately 65,000 square meters of open storage is available for this purpose.

A railway track will also run through the new heavy goods hall in the future, allowing incoming parts and components to be transported directly by rail into the hall. Ceiling cranes ensure easy unloading and handling of goods. All three hall ships are equipped with cranes with a lifting capacity of currently up to 120 tons. This makes the facility perfectly suitable for assembling parts into larger units.

Rail Connection Operational from January 2021

The connection of the Nordfrost port property to the public railway network, which is necessary for this, has now started. The 2 km railway line will be operational from January 2021 and will run partly double-track along the entire length of the 33-hectare port property. Combined transport with rail integration can thus be arranged for any type of goods, enriching the overall offering of the Nordfrost seaport terminal.

The logistics provider took the opportunity of the start of the rail connection to simultaneously inaugurate the heavy goods hall in a small setting. The project logistics team was visited by Wilhelmshaven’s mayor Carsten Feist, who inspected the new hall. He conveyed the city’s congratulations while remembering the entrepreneur and company founder Horst Bartels, who passed away earlier this year, and his successful, visionary commitment to the development of the Container Port of Wilhelmshaven. “The new opportunities he planned further enhance the attractiveness of the port and create additional jobs. Today’s event is encouraging!” said Feist. The optimal conditions directly at the deep water will contribute to attracting new business with value creation and additional handling volume to Wilhelmshaven.

Investment of Approximately 10 Million Euros

The family-owned company invested around 10 million euros in the construction of the heavy goods hall. For the rail connection, an additional approximately 3 million euros will follow. This is being realized by the two Oldenburg construction companies Ludwig Freytag and Stefen. Ludwig Freytag also built the heavy goods hall and is currently constructing the other ongoing projects on the site of the seaport terminal: The new three-lane entrance to the site with a gatehouse was completed and occupied in recent days. A new administrative building for the terminal’s administration and a second hygiene area for food packaging are nearing completion this year. In the third quarter of next year, the high-bay warehouse for an additional 40,000 deep-frozen pallet spaces will go into operation.

Photo: © Nordfrost / Caption: The railway line that will run through the new heavy goods hall is now being laid on the premises of the Nordfrost seaport terminal under the supervision of Michael Krönke (STEFEN). Pleased about this are (from left to right): Eike Voigt and Philipp Brandstrup (both Nordfrost seaport terminal), Christian Kreuzhermes (LUDWIG FREYTAG), Sven Boldt (Nordfrost), Thilo Hullmeine (STEFEN), Carsten Feist (Mayor of the City of Wilhelmshaven), Britta Bartels and Dr. Falk Bartels (both Nordfrost management).

www.nordfrost.de