The Bundeswehr is arming itself, and this is also visible on the North Sea coast: This year, the force will begin to upgrade the port in Bremerhaven for the Bundeswehr and NATO with an investment worth billions. In addition, according to dpa information, a new military port for the navy is being built in Emden, East Frisia.
According to dpa information, the navy needs an area of 40 hectares in Emden, with an option for a further 10 hectares. The new naval port will provide berths for seven frigates, ten minesweepers and ten tugs. It is expected that a four-digit number of soldiers and civilian employees will work there. The only naval port on the North Sea to date is in Wilhelmshaven.
Record sum for the port as a NATO hub
In the Bremen town hall, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) signed a declaration of intent on how the port in Bremerhaven should be upgraded as a NATO hub by 2031. The federal government is investing around 1.35 billion euros for this. A record sum, as Pistorius emphasized. “This is the biggest investment here,” said the SPD politician.
The Bremen Senate is contributing 200 million euros, with additional money coming from private investors. The federal government, Bundeswehr, the state of Bremen and the port industry had been struggling for months about where the money should flow. The aim is to expand the civil-military infrastructure of the overseas ports and the hinterland connection.
In the end, the decision was made on more than 40 measures: Among other things, a new heavy-duty bridge and several heavy-duty areas in the port, part of the power quay, a connecting canal with a swing bridge and various inland quays in the Kaiserhafen are to be built and upgraded. In addition, there will be deepening of the harbor basin, a new fire station and the expansion of roads and rail connections. Bremen Airport should also benefit, for example with more logistics space.
According to the Defense Minister, the investment is necessary because the threat situation has recently changed significantly. “We are the hub for military deployment in an emergency,” emphasized Pistorius. “This represents an important building block for the implementation of the Germany operational plan.”
What is known so far about the plans for the naval port
The considerations for the new naval port in Emden, which Pistorius initially did not want to comment on when asked, are nowhere near that advanced. Details are expected next week. A press conference with Pistorius and Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Olaf Lies (SPD) is scheduled for October 5th. Both then want to “explain the next steps regarding a possible new naval base,” as it is said. The inspector of the navy, Vice Admiral Wilhelm Tobias Abry, and Emden's first city councilor Horst Jahnke (SPD) will also be there.
The Navy had looked at several coastal towns in recent months to search for a location. This also included the port of Bremerhaven, where, like in Emden, military goods are already being handled for troop transports and deployment exercises.
No details were announced regarding the selection process, criteria and possible locations. The Ministry of Defense recently referred to new requirements, including the planned increase in the armed forces.
Pistorius sees a need for another naval port
During a visit to troops in East Frisia in mid-July, the Defense Minister emphasized the need for a second naval port on the German North Sea coast. “On the one hand, this is a question of security,” said the SPD politician at the time. In an emergency, Germany needs a second port in order to be able to escape and to ensure accessibility.
"And of course it's also about creating the capacities that are needed if, in an emergency, hundreds of thousands of Allies with material and personnel have to move through Germany and land in Germany beforehand," said the Defense Minister at the time.
The state government promoted Emden
The State Chancellery in Hanover recently spoke out in favor of Emden as a naval location. Until 1997 there was a naval base in East Frisia's largest city. Lower Saxony is Bundeswehr state number one, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Olaf Lies recently said when asked. Accordingly, the state government has “great interest in a strong Emden location”.
According to the state-owned port infrastructure company Niedersachsen Ports (NPorts), the port of Emden has the largest unused space potential of all ports in Lower Saxony. One area would be the so-called Rysumer Neck, a port expansion area on the Ems west of the seaport city and owned by the state. The city of Emden, NPorts and the state have been considering for years how the area can be used to further develop the port - so far there have been plans for civil use.
Where the Navy is already stationed
The currently only naval port on the North Sea coast is in Wilhelmshaven. It is also the largest Bundeswehr location ever. In addition to the naval base, these include, among other things, a naval arsenal and a logistics center. The operational flotilla 2 is stationed at the naval base - one of the three major units of the German Navy. These include frigates, task force suppliers and fleet tankers.
