There are currently four container terminals in the Port of Hamburg: the Eurogate container terminal, one terminal at Burchardkai, one in Tollerort and one in Altenwerder. The terminal in Hamburg’s Altenwerder district, which is over one million square meters in size, has existed since 2002. It has been one of the world’s most modern terminals since it opened. Up to four large ships with goods from all over the world can dock at the 1,400 meter long Ballinkai. Because the Köhlbrandbrücke blocks the way, the very large container ships, which can carry up to 22,000 containers, can only go to the other container terminals.
Around ten large ships dock in Altenwerder every week and spend around 24 hours in the port. The fourteen gantry cranes, each weighing 2,000 tons, stack the containers onto the ships. On the western part of the site there is a station for trucks and a station for handling freight trains. There are also 26 storage blocks for storing the containers.
The unloading of a ship
When the 2,000-ton container bridge is positioned, the spreader (grab arm) hangs in the air. The driver unloads the container from the ship with the so-called “main trolley” and drives back to an intermediate platform, where the cargo is deposited. The rest happens automatically: The so-called “portal trolley” grabs the container from there and places it on an autonomous vehicle. The AGV (Automatic Guided Vehicle) transports the container to the storage block. On the other hand, when a ship is loaded, the process is reversed.
The background noise is exactly as visitors imagine it: it is loud and steel bangs on steel. In return, the workers on the container gantries are rewarded with a fantastic view over Hamburg when the weather holds. If it is too windy, the container gantries have to take a break. The arms are folded up to prevent them from tipping over. Even when visibility is poor, the workers take a forced break.
Source: HHLA