Kreetsand tidal shallow water area

Securing the seaward access to the port in a sustainable way

It is the goal of the Tidal Elbe concept of the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and the Federal Waterways and Shipping administration to secure unrestricted access to the Port of Hamburg in the long run. The sustainable approach serves the economy and nature as well as the people in the region. In addition, the consequences of climate change are taken into consideration. Measures has to be taken to achieve a better balance in the hydromorfological situation, where possible in combination with nature improvement. The Kreetsand pilot project is an example of these measures.

This is based on a three-pillar approach:

1. Measures in the entrance to dampen the tidal energy.
2. Creation of tidal shallow water areas between Glückstadt and Geesthacht.
3. Optimalisation of sediment management by taking the whole Elbe system into account.

The pilot project Kreetsand in the framework of the Tidal Elbe, will create additional space for the Elbe river on the east side of the Elbe island of Wilhelmsburg.

Furthermore, public awareness and knowledge of the complexities of the Tidal Elbe system will be increased.

Midway through the last century, the former flushing field was filled with sand and silt material from maintenance dredging works on the Rive Elbe. For the construction of the shallow water area, a one-sided connection of the area to the Norderelbe has been chosen. This requires the removal of approximately two billion cubic meters of soil material, a quarter of which is contaminated and must therefore be disposed of properly. The aim is to use as much suitable material as possible in other constructions.