UN/LOCODE: DEWVN📍 Germany

Port of Wilhelmshaven (UN/LOCODE DEWVN)

❖ Coordinates: 53.5200°N, 8.1300°E

❖ Time Zone: Europe/Berlin

❖ UN/LOCODE: DEWVN

## About the Port Wilhelmshaven (UN/LOCODE **DEWVN**) is Germany’s only deep‑water, sea‑accessible container hub on the North Sea coast of Niedersachsen. Situated at **53.52° N, 8.13° E** and operating under the **Europe/Berlin** time zone, the port enjoys a natural, ice‑free harbour that can accommodate vessels of up to 300 000 DWT. Its strategic position—approximately 350 km northwest of Hamburg and 250 km east of the Dutch Randstad—makes Wilhelmshaven a pivotal gateway for trans‑European logistics, especially for bulk commodities, automotive parts, and containerised trade. The port is administratively managed by the **Wilhelmshaven Port Authority (WPA)**, a joint public‑private entity reporting to the State of Lower Saxony. It is integrated into the European TEN‑T (Trans‑European Transport Network) corridors, linking maritime traffic to the extensive inland‑waterway system of the Weser River and the high‑capacity railway network of the Hanover–Wilhelmshaven line. --- ## History ### Early Maritime Roots (19th Century) Wilhelmshaven was founded in 1869 as a Prussian naval base, selected for its deep, sheltered natural harbour. The original harbour facilities supported the Imperial German Navy, providing dockyards, coaling stations, and a ship‑building yard. ### Transition to Commercial Use (Post‑World War II) After WWII, the port was re‑purposed under Allied occupation, and the German Federal Ministry of Transport (BMVI) initiated a systematic conversion to a commercial hub. The 1960s saw the construction of the **JadeWeserPort**, Germany’s first deep‑water container terminal, which became operational in 2012. ### Recent Development (21st Century) In the 2000s, the port expanded its bulk terminals to handle liquefied natural gas (LNG) and iron ore, responding to the EU’s energy diversification goals. The **Wilhelmshaven LNG Terminal**, commissioned in 2021, underscores the port’s role in the “energy transition” agenda. Continuous dredging projects have kept the navigation channel at a depth of **16 m** (approx. 525 ft), preserving its status as the deepest German seaport. --- ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Container Terminals - **JadeWeserPort**: Equipped with two quay cranes (12 × 40 t, 20 × 20 t) and a dedicated inland‑rail terminal capable of moving **80 TEU per train**. - **Automated Yard**: Over 1 million m² of ground‑up‑stack storage, incorporating RFID‑based tracking and remote‑operated gantries. ### Bulk & Project Cargo - **General Bulk Terminal**: Four conveyor belts (max 5 kt/h) handling grain, coke, and scrap metal. - **LNG Terminal**: Three 170 m × 38 m LNG storage tanks, with a regasification capacity of **5 Mtpa** (million tonnes per annum). - **Project Cargo Bay**: 200 × 80 m lay‑down area with a 30‑tonne mobile crane, serving oversized equipment for offshore wind farms. ### Intermodal Connectivity - **Rail**: Direct connection to the **Hannover–Wilhelmshaven railway**, with a dedicated 3 km siding for double‑stack containers. - **Road**: Access to the **A27** autobahn (E22 European route) and the **B213**, providing rapid links to the German Autobahn network. - **Inland Waterways**: Navigable branch of the Weser River, extending 150 km inland to **Bremen** and beyond. ### Support Services - **Ship‑repair & Ship‑building**: Two dry‑dock facilities (10 000 t and 20 000 t capacity) operated by **Meyer Werft** under a long‑term lease. - **Customs & Security**: Integrated customs clearance (German Customs Administration) and EU‑wide security screening compliant with the **International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code**. For further technical specifications, see the **Wilhelmshaven Port Authority** site [[1]](https://www.wilhelmshaven-port.de). --- ## Economic Importance ### Regional Impact Wilhelmshaven contributes **≈ €7 billion** annually to the Lower Saxony economy, supporting over **25 000 jobs**—directly in port operations and indirectly in logistics, manufacturing, and services. The port’s multiplier effect is amplified by the adjacent **Wilhelmshaven Energy Cluster**, which houses offshore wind turbine manufacturers and energy‑storage firms. ### National Significance As Germany’s sole **deep‑water container gateway**, Wilhelmshaven relieves capacity pressure on traditional hubs like Hamburg and Bremen. Its ability to handle **Post‑Panamax** and **New‑Panamax** vessels reduces hinterland congestion and shortens supply‑chain lead times for automotive, chemicals, and consumer goods manufacturers. ### EU & Global Role Wilhelmshaven is a strategic node in the **EU’s Green Deal** logistics network, supporting the import of low‑carbon fuels (e.g., LNG, bio‑fuels) and the export of renewable‑energy equipment. The port’s participation in the **Baltic–North Sea Corridor** (TEN‑T) positions it as a key trans‑Atlantic transshipment point for container traffic between the United States and Central/Eastern Europe. --- ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Principal Trade Lanes | Origin / Destination | Primary Vessel Type | Typical Transit Time | |----------------------|---------------------|----------------------| | **Rotterdam – Wilhelmshaven** | Feeder/container (12‑13 m) | 1–2 days | | **New York / East Coast US – Wilhelmshaven** | New‑Panamax container ship | 10–12 days | | **Gulf of Mexico – Wilhelmshaven** | VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) | 13–14 days | | **Riga (Baltic) – Wilhelmshaven** | Bulk carrier (grain, timber) | 2–3 days | | **Offshore North Sea sites – Wilhelmshaven** | Service vessels, wind‑farm installation ships | 1 day | ### Cargo Breakdown (2023) - **Containers**: 2.1 million TEU (≈ 30 % of total volume) – dominated by automotive parts, chemicals, and consumer electronics. - **LNG**: 4.5 Mt (≈ 15 % of total) – serving German power‑generation and industrial demand. - **Dry Bulk**: 12 Mt – principally grain, coal, and iron ore. - **Project Cargo**: 0.8 Mt – offshore wind turbine components and heavy machinery. ### Emerging Trends 1. **Offshore Wind Supply Chain** – The port’s deep‑draft quays and heavy‑lift capabilities are being leveraged for the assembly and dispatch of wind‑turbine blades destined for the North Sea and Baltic Sea farms. 2. **Circular Economy Imports** – Increased volumes of recycled plastics and secondary raw materials are processed through the general cargo terminal, aligning with EU sustainability targets. --- ### References 1. Wilhelmshaven Port Authority – official portal: https://www.wilhelmshaven-port.de 2. European Commission – TEN‑T corridors: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t_en *Keywords: Wilhelmshaven port, DEWVN, deep‑water German harbour, JadeWeserPort, LNG terminal, North Sea logistics, European trade corridors, container terminal, bulk cargo, offshore wind supply chain.*

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

DEWVN

Country

Germany

Province / Region

Niedersachsen

Latitude

53.520000

Longitude

8.130000

Timezone

Europe/Berlin

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Wilhelmshaven?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Wilhelmshaven is DEWVN.

Where is Port of Wilhelmshaven located?

The Port of Wilhelmshaven is located in Germany, Niedersachsen. Its coordinates are 53.5200°N, 8.1300°E.

What time zone is Port of Wilhelmshaven in?

Port of Wilhelmshaven operates in the Europe/Berlin time zone.

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About the World Port Index

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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