Big ships at the quay - Bremerhaven
In Bremerhaven, the quay in the port is called the quay. From there, 5.5 million containers are handled annually. The terminal operators are always busy expanding in order to remain competitive. The harbour basin was specially extended so that the modern container giants of up to 400 metres can also turn and berth here. When the mega-ship "Mærsk Mc Kinney Møller" wants to unload several thousand containers of cargo, the processes in the port are meticulously planned. Because berthing time is expensive. Kiara James notices this too. She is doing a voluntary social year at the Seamen's Mission. She makes shipboard visits and works in the Welcome Seamen's Club. The seafarers are often happy to just have a chat + see another face, according to her experience. Bremerhaven is also an important hub for shipping cars. More than two million vehicles are handled here every year, and Europe's largest car park has space for 95,000 cars. Isabella Grochowska works as a driver at the car terminal + parks new cars in the tightest of spaces in the huge special ships. For many models, the "rule of thumb" applies: one fist's width of space between the mirrors, no more space is allowed! For many people, the ports of Bremerhaven are a very special place to work. And even though the industry is dominated by men, you meet many strong women who hold their own in different jobs in the port: Saskia Klockow is a sailor on a dredger barge and wants to become a ship's captain soon. The barge transports the harbour silt, which was previously dredged out of the harbour basin by the bucket dredger, to Bremen for disposal. "die nordstory" offers unusual insights behind the scenes of Europe's fourth largest universal port.
Broadcasting on 26th of September 2022 at 03.00pm on NDR + Radio Bremen FS/ARD
Music: POPVIRUS Library