As of: 09/18/2022 6:37 p.m
The departure parade with almost 100 ships marked the conclusion of the 833rd Hamburg Port Birthday. Live music can still be seen on the NDR stage until tonight.
Celebrations can continue on the promenade until Sunday evening. Today’s highlight of the last day of the port birthday was the big departure parade, with which numerous ships said goodbye to the port birthday. Customs and Navy had previously demonstrated spectacular turning maneuvers on the Elbe. Despite the rain showers, tens of thousands of people stood at the edge of the harbor and admired the numerous ships at the traditional departure parade in the afternoon. The group Truck Stop performed on the NDR stage, followed by performances by United 4 and The Rattles in the afternoon and evening.
Fewer ships and less audience
Hamburg’s Economics Senator Michael Westhagemann (independent) drew a positive balance of the port birthday on Sunday. Due to the short-term invitation for September, fewer ships came than in previous years. But around 800,000 people attended the festival and were not deterred by the changeable weather. Otherwise, according to Westhagemann, more than a million people attended the event, which this time took place in September instead of May. He also thanked the many volunteers who made the event possible.
Sea of lights on Saturday
Saturday ended with a crowd puller: at 9.45 p.m. the ship’s sirens could be heard in large parts of the city: the show “Hamburg’s sea of lights” ended with this long-lasting sound. The focus was on fireworks on board an Aida cruise ship. 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”
The four-kilometre-long promenade on the Elbe between the fish auction hall and the Elbphilharmonie is to be celebrated until Sunday evening. 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. 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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