Uelzen celebrates 50 years of the port: A look back at successes and the future!

Uelzen celebrates 50 years of the port: A look back at successes and the future!

On August 31, 2025, a very special celebration was celebrated in the port of Uelzen: the port's 50th birthday was celebrated with numerous guests, including District Administrator Dr. Heiko Blume and Mayor Jürgen Markwardt, vigorously celebrated. Bastian Niggemeier, Managing Director of Port Logistics Uelzen GmbH, opened the celebrations and told the exciting history of the port, which was founded in 1975 by the Hanseatic city, the Uelzen district and Rhenus WTAG. Over the last five decades, the port has developed into an indispensable part of the regional economy.

The port's location on the Elbe Lateral Canal makes it an important hub for freight traffic. As a parallel port with a quay length of 400 meters and a water depth of 4 meters, it is easily accessible for class 5b inland waterway vessels. In addition, the Elbe Lateral Canal connects Uelzen with the large seaports of Hamburg and Lübeck as well as with the most important industrial and commercial centers in northern Germany. Loud Economy Uelzen Uelzen handles over 450,000 tons annually, with bulk goods such as coal, grain and building materials being transported.

Milestones in port development

An interesting episode in the history of the port was the breach of the dam near Lüneburg in 1976, which led to the canal being temporarily closed. However, port operations were resumed on June 24, 1977 after necessary security measures. Since then, the port has continued to develop. As early as 1986, the 100,000 ton throughput mark was exceeded annually; by 2014 the port reached an impressive 400,000 tons. In 2022, a peak throughput volume of 603,000 tons was achieved, making the port the port with the highest turnover on the Elbe Lateral Canal AZ Online reported.

Not only the quantity, but also the type of envelope has changed over the years. 65% of cargo is now transported by inland waterway vessels, and two parallel tracks and an extensive transshipment area are available for surface traffic. The focus is on bulk goods, but heavy goods and container handling is also possible.

Important infrastructure for the region

The port of Uelzen, which is described as a reflection of the district, plays a crucial role in the regional economy. “The port is our lifeline,” says District Administrator Dr. Blume, highlighting the importance of port infrastructure. With its direct connections to the rail network and the ability to transport large quantities of goods, the port has not only strengthened the economy within Uelzen, but has also made a significant contribution to the development of the entire region.

How important the port is for the economic region is also shown by the fact that it has achieved consistently high throughput figures in recent years, hovering around the 500,000 ton mark. The combination of water, rail and road transport means that Uelzen is attractive to many logistics companies.

So the future of the port looks bright. Further growth and new projects will show how the port of Uelzen can hold its own in the dynamic environment of inland shipping. The region's citizens and companies can look forward to seeing where the port's journey will lead in the next 50 years. Loud Statista The issue of goods handling in inland shipping remains a central point for the economic development of northern Germany.