UN/LOCODE: DKKTD📍 Denmark

Port of Kerteminde (UN/LOCODE DKKTD)

❖ Coordinates: 55.4559°N, 10.6550°E

❖ Time Zone: Europe/Copenhagen

❖ UN/LOCODE: DKKTD

## About the Port **Kerteminde Havn** (UN/LOCODE: **DKKTD**) is a strategically positioned, multi-purpose commercial harbor situated on the northeastern coast of the island of Funen (Fyn), Denmark, at the entrance to the Kerteminde Fjord. Administered by **Kerteminde Municipality** under the jurisdiction of **Region Syddanmark**, the port operates within the **Europe/Copenhagen** timezone (CET/CEST) at coordinates **55.455882° N, 10.654979° E**. Functioning as a critical node in the Danish Straits network, DKKTD serves the Great Belt (Storebælt) traffic corridor, offering shelter and logistics services for both commercial shipping and a significant offshore energy sector. The port authority manages approximately 300 meters of deep-water quayage alongside extensive inner harbor facilities. Its statutory pilotage area covers the approach through the Kerteminde Fjord, a 6.5 nautical mile channel marked by leading lights (Kerteminde For/Før) with a maintained depth of 7.5 meters, accommodating vessels up to 130 meters LOA and 5.5 meters draft. The facility maintains ISPS Code compliance (Security Level 1 standard) and operates 24/7 subject to tidal windows and icebreaker assistance during severe winters. ## History ### Medieval Origins and Hansa Influence Kerteminde’s maritime history dates to the early 13th century, receiving its market town charter (købstadsrettigheder) in 1358 under King Valdemar IV Atterdag. The natural deep fjord provided a defensible anchorage superior to the open coast of the Great Belt. During the Kalmar Union and subsequent Danish-Norwegian realm, the port functioned as a vital royal customs station (toldsted) controlling the "Kerteminde Sund" passage, levying Sound Dues precursors on Baltic trade. ### Industrial Transition and the Ferry Era The 19th century saw the port adapt to steam propulsion. The establishment of the **Kerteminde–Nyborg** railway ferry connection in 1883 (operated by DSB until 1933) cemented its role as a primary inter-island transport hub linking Funen to Zealand (Sjælland) prior to the Great Belt Bridge. The harbor basins were significantly dredged and expanded between 1910–1920 to accommodate railway ferries and growing grain exports from the fertile Funen hinterland. ### Modernization and Offshore Pivot Post-WWII, the decline of the ferry route (superseded by the Knudshoved–Halsskov link and later the fixed link) forced a structural pivot. The 1970s witnessed the construction of the **Outer Harbor (Yderhavnen)** with heavy-duty reinforced concrete quays, designed initially for bulk cement and feedstuff imports. Since the 1990s, the port has undergone a deliberate strategic reorientation toward the **offshore renewable energy sector**, leveraging its proximity to the Anholt, Horns Rev, and Kriegers Flak wind farm clusters. ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Quayage and Berthing Specifications The port is segmented into three primary operational zones: * **Yderhavnen (Outer Harbor):** Features **Berths 1–4** with a combined continuous quay length of 420 meters. Designed for **7.5 m CD (Chart Datum)** depth alongside, these berths handle Handymax bulk carriers, offshore installation vessels (OIVs), and Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs). Bollard pull capacity rated at 150 tonnes. Equipped with 3 x 40-tonne mobile harbor cranes (Liebherr LHM 420/550 class) and shore power connections (High Voltage 6.6 kV / Low Voltage 400 V) meeting EU Directive 2014/94/EU. * **Inderhavnen (Inner Harbor):** Protected by the 350-meter **Kerteminde Molen** breakwater. Comprises **Berths 5–12** (approx. 850 meters total) with depths ranging 4.5–6.0 m CD. Dedicated to coastal tankers, RoRo feeders, fishing fleet (approx. 30 cutters), and project cargo/steel handling. Includes a 120-meter RoRo ramp (Berth 8) with linkspan for trailer/mafi operations. * **Marina & Slipway Facilities:** 400+ leisure craft berths managed separately by Kerteminde Sejlklub; 50-tonne travel lift and 1,200 m² covered workshop hall for vessel repair/refit (steel/aluminum/composite). ### Storage and Logistics Assets * **Covered Storage:** 18,000 m² insulated warehousing (Sprinkler Class A) for weather-sensitive cargo (fertilizer, grain, project cargo). * **Open Storage:** 65,000 m² hardstanding (heavy-load rated 25 t/m²) for wind turbine components (blades, towers, transition pieces). * **Liquid Bulk:** 4 x shore-based tanks (total 25,000 m³ capacity) for vegetable oils, molasses, and liquid fertilizer (UAN), served by dedicated stainless steel piping manifolds at Berth 2 & 3. * **Rail Connectivity:** **Standard gauge (1435 mm) siding** connecting directly to the Danish State Railways (DSB) network at Kerteminde Station (2 km inland), facilitating wagon loads of grain, fertilizer, and project cargo. Last-mile shunting operated by private contractor. ## Economic Importance ### Regional Employment and Value Creation DKKTD acts as a primary economic engine for Nordfyns Municipality. Independent socio-economic analyses (most recent: *COWI 2022 Port Impact Study*) estimate the port generates **~1,200 FTEs (Full-Time Equivalents)** directly and indirectly across stevedoring, ship agency, maritime services, and the **Kerteminde Maritime Industrial Park (KMIP)**. The KMIP, a 45-hectare zoned area adjacent to Yderhavnen, hosts cluster companies specializing in subsea technology, flange management, NDT inspection, and crew transfer vessel (CTV) maintenance. ### Offshore Wind O&M Hub Status The port’s single largest revenue driver is **Operations & Maintenance (O&M) logistics for offshore wind**. Kerteminde is the designated home port for major O&M contracts on the **Anholt Offshore Wind Farm** (400 MW, Ørsted) and serves as a forward logistics base for **Horns Rev 3** (407 MW, Vattenfall) and **Kriegers Flak** (605 MW, Vattenfall). This generates consistent, high-margin utilization of quay space for CSOVs/SOVs (avg. 180 vessel calls/year), helicopter operations (H145/S-92 rated helideck onshore), and long-term component storage. The port authority has invested > DKK 150 million (EUR 20M) since 2015 in heavy-lift pads and HV shore power to secure this niche. ### Fiscal Profile Operating as a financially independent municipal utility (selvejende driftsenhed), the port reports annual turnover of approx. **DKK 85–95 million** with positive EBITDA margins, enabling self-financed reinvestment without municipal subsidy. Property revenue (long-term ground leases to KMIP tenants) constitutes ~35% of turnover, diversifying risk against cargo volume volatility. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Hinterland Connectivity The primary catchment area encompasses **Nordfyn, parts of Central Funen, and Southern Jutland** via the E20 motorway (Odense–Kerteminde link) and rail siding. The port competes with Odense Havn (DKODE) for bulk/breakbulk but dominates the offshore wind logistics niche due to superior fjord shelter and draft availability closer to North Sea/Great Belt wind farm clusters. ### Cargo Profile (Annual Throughput ~1.2–1.5 Million Tonnes) | Cargo Category | Typical Volume | Trade Flow | Key Origins/Destinations | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Offshore Wind Components** | 350,000–450k tonnes | Import/Transit/Export | Denmark (manufacturing), Poland, Spain, Taiwan (re-export), UK East Coast | | **Grain & Feed Crops** | 300,000–400k tonnes | Export | North Africa (Egypt, Morocco), Middle East, Southern EU | | **Fertilizer & Agribulk** | 200,000–250k tonnes | Import | Russia (historical), Morocco (OCP), Norway (Yara), Lithuania (Lifosa) | | **Liquid Bulk (Veg Oils/Molasses)** | 80,000–100k tonnes | Import/Transit | Malaysia/Indonesia (Palm), South America (Soy), EU Refineries | | **Stone/Aggregates (Raw)** | 150,000 tonnes | Import | Norway (Skanska/NCC quarries), Sweden, Bornholm | | **Project Cargo / Steel** | 50,000–80k tonnes | Bidirectional | Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Baltic States | ### Shipping Lines and Service Patterns * **Liner Services:** No fixed weekly deep-sea liner calls. Served by **tramp/coastal operators** (e.g., **Erik Thun**, **Rederi AB Götaverken**, **Wilson ASA**, **Vertom**) on spot/COA basis for bulk/breakbulk. * **Offshore Charter:** Long-term time charters (3–5 years) for CSOVs/SOVs (operators: **Louis Dreyfus Armateurs**, **Esvagt**, **Windcat Workboats**). * **Short Sea/Feeder:** Regular RoRo/LoLo feeder connections to **Aarhus (DKAAR)**, **Fredericia (DKFRC)**, and **Køge (DKKOE)** for hinterland distribution to deep-sea hubs. ### Navigational Considerations Vessels bound for DKKTD typically route via the **Great Belt Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS)**. The approach channel (Kerteminde Rend) requires **mandatory pilotage** for vessels >70m LOA or >11m beam (Danish Pilotage Act). The fjord current runs up to 2.5 knots at springs; berthings are planned slack water. Winter ice (Jan–Mar) may restrict draft to 5.0m or require icebreaker assistance (Danish State Icebreaker *Isbjørn* or *Thorbjørn* based in Odense). For real-time berth availability and Notices to Mariners, operators reference the **Danish Maritime Authority (Søfartsstyrelsen)** and the port's VTS channel (Ch 12/16).

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

DKKTD

Country

Denmark

Province / Region

Region Syddanmark

Latitude

55.455882

Longitude

10.654979

Timezone

Europe/Copenhagen

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Kerteminde?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Kerteminde is DKKTD.

Where is Port of Kerteminde located?

The Port of Kerteminde is located in Denmark, Region Syddanmark. Its coordinates are 55.4559°N, 10.6550°E.

What time zone is Port of Kerteminde in?

Port of Kerteminde operates in the Europe/Copenhagen time zone.

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This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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