Status: 09/17/2022 10:44 p.m
Crowds of spectators marveled at the first highlights at the 833rd Hamburg Port Birthday. After the entry parade on Friday, the tractor ballet attracted a number of visitors on Saturday. The second day ended with a light show and fireworks.
At 9:45 p.m., the ship’s sirens could be heard in large parts of the city: the “Hamburg’s Sea of Lights” show ended with this long-lasting sound. The focus was on fireworks on board an Aida cruise ship. The second day also came to an end with a crowd puller. In addition, since the afternoon musicians have been on ten stages of the harbor birthday. Hamburg Voices and Jeder Tag Silvester were already on stage, as were Tonbandgerät, Roachford and Cosmopauli.
Tug ballet with lots of rain
On Saturday afternoon, boats with up to 3,000 hp performed elegant pirouettes on the Elbe at the traditional tug ballet to classical music. At times, the choreography was accompanied by heavy rain. The approximately 30-meter-long “Fairplay 54”, “Bugsier 18”, “Wulf 5” and “Mars” certainly rocked, but moved safely over the water.
Motto: “Cast off, we’re partying again”
Until Sunday there will be celebrations on the approximately four kilometer long promenade on the Elbe between the fish auction hall and the Elbphilharmonie. The motto of the port birthday this year is “Cast off, let’s celebrate again”.
Criticism from nature conservationists at the harbor birthday
The Nature Conservation Union (NABU) has meanwhile called for the festival to be cancelled. In times of crisis, it is irresponsible to organize a major event like the port birthday, said NABU Hamburg. With the help of a protest letter to the bosses of large shipping companies, NABU wants to call on them to stop using heavy fuel oil immediately.
Guests can also board the ships
On the water, however, from the ship chandler barge “Agnes”, to the cruise giant “AIDAprima”, the sea rescue cruiser “Hamburg” and the four-masted barque “Peking” to the steam tugboat “Woltmann” there is practically everything. Visitors can often take a closer look at the ships directly on board at the “Open Ship”.
Grand opening
On Friday, the Hamburg Port Birthday was officially opened after a two-year Corona break. Several hundred thousand guests are expected over the weekend. And they can experience a lot again this year – there is an extensive program for the approximately four kilometer long promenade along the Elbe.
Arrival by U-Bahn and S-Bahn recommended
Since many roads are closed between the Fischauktionshalle and the Elbphilharmonie, visitors should travel by underground and S-Bahn. However, the S3 S-Bahn line across the Elbe will be completely closed throughout Saturday. According to the railway, this is necessary to complete repair work on a bridge. The other trains run more frequently and longer until Sunday – in the inner city area until about 1.30 a.m. at night. The port ferries may experience delays and restrictions due to the temporary closure of the Elbe. Line 62 only runs between Altona and Finkenwerder at weekends.
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