Seemannshotel Portside in Bremerhaven closes after 125 years!

Seemannshotel Portside in Bremerhaven closes after 125 years!

The Seaman's Hotel Portside in Bremerhaven, a traditional meeting point for sailors, will close at the end of 2025 after an impressive 125 years. This decision is supported by the German Seaman's Mission Hannover e.V. A look at the background shows that it is not only the decline in the number of overnight stays, but also the changing needs of seafarers that are a significant factor in the closure.

There has been a significant decline in the number of visitors: overnight stays fell from 5,240 in 2023 to just 3,670 in 2024. The first months of 2025 also show another negative trend: around 600 fewer nights compared to the previous year, which makes the need for closure even clearer. Many seafarers now travel directly from the plane to their ship, which means there is little demand for overnight stays on land. Shipping companies are also increasingly booking alternatives and the times ships spend in port are shorter, as the reflections of seafaring pastor Uwe Baumhauer make clear.

A place full of stories

Over the years, the seafarers' hotel has not just been a place to stay overnight, but has contributed in many ways to strengthening the seafarers' community. Christine Freytag, a former sailor's deacon, remembers numerous stories and unforgettable encounters. During the Corona pandemic, the hotel served as a quarantine station, which shows how flexible and important the hotel was even in difficult times.

The social function of the sailor hotel is particularly noteworthy. Regional Bishop Hans Christian Brandy emphasizes the crucial role of personal care, which will remain the focus even after the hotel closes. The seamen's pastor emphasizes that the Welcome seamen's club in the port, which attracted around 30,000 visitors last year, as well as the on-board visitor service will continue to exist. These facilities are essential to support seafarers in their often challenging life situations.

A step into the future

The decision to close was not an easy one, but it also opens up new opportunities. The board of the German Seamen's Mission would like the focus to be more on the personal care of the seafarers, which will be made possible financially by the closure of the hotel. Secretary General Matthias Ristau regrets saying goodbye to a historic place, but sees the need to adapt to the changing needs of seafarers as a forward-looking step.

The closure of the Portside Seaman's Hotel not only marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of new projects that are better tailored to the needs of seafarers. Because the mission statement of the Seaman's Mission remains clear: to protect the dignity of seafarers and to continue to offer them a home in the world's major ports - a task that the German Seaman's Mission in Bremerhaven and other places pursues with passion. Information about other social institutions that offer support to seafarers can be found on the German Seaman's Mission website - a good offer for anyone looking for an insight into the topic of sea work.

For the seafarers it is important to continue to rely on quality and support - even if the seafarers' hotel closes. Social work and support from experienced staff remains a central component, no matter which way the wind blows.