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Elbe dredging moves forward as court rejects eco objections
来源：shippingazette.com 编辑：编辑部 发布：2017/12/04 14:34:38
OBJECTIONS by several neighbouring cities and commercial fishermen to Hamburg port's plans to deepen the lower section of the River Elbe have been dismissed by Germany's Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig.
However, the port told London's Loadstar that 11 years of legal hold-ups were not over yet. "We face at least one final round of opposition from two individuals who claim the new security light tower will be too close to their house and shine into their bedroom," said the spokesman.
"While this creates further delay, we do not believe it will amount to much and believe their claim will also be dismissed - the light is necessary for the safe passage of vessels on the river."
The port also anticipates that two or three more private parties would seek to block the expansion. Should their objections be heard, these private individuals would represent the third attempt this year to stop the dredging works after environmentalists raised concerns in February over potential risks to local wildlife.
In this instance, the court approved the project, but kept in place a stop-work order until substitute areas forhemlock and water dropwort plant life along the Elbe could be found.
It also said concerns on the fluctuation of river salinity had to be addressed, although Hamburg port authority chief executive Jens Meier said the court's decision indicated the need for the expansion.
Put on hold in 2013, Elbe dredging involved plans for the 385-metre channel to increase capacity for ultra-large container vessels by 1,800 TEU per call.
After the February decision, the port told Loadstar that, assuming there were no more protests, construction could commence within the next year or two.
"But with no fixed time schedule, it is difficult to fully communicate plans to carriers, as under German law nothing can start without a complete project plan," said the spokesman.
However, the port told London's Loadstar that 11 years of legal hold-ups were not over yet. "We face at least one final round of opposition from two individuals who claim the new security light tower will be too close to their house and shine into their bedroom," said the spokesman.
"While this creates further delay, we do not believe it will amount to much and believe their claim will also be dismissed - the light is necessary for the safe passage of vessels on the river."
The port also anticipates that two or three more private parties would seek to block the expansion. Should their objections be heard, these private individuals would represent the third attempt this year to stop the dredging works after environmentalists raised concerns in February over potential risks to local wildlife.
In this instance, the court approved the project, but kept in place a stop-work order until substitute areas forhemlock and water dropwort plant life along the Elbe could be found.
It also said concerns on the fluctuation of river salinity had to be addressed, although Hamburg port authority chief executive Jens Meier said the court's decision indicated the need for the expansion.
Put on hold in 2013, Elbe dredging involved plans for the 385-metre channel to increase capacity for ultra-large container vessels by 1,800 TEU per call.
After the February decision, the port told Loadstar that, assuming there were no more protests, construction could commence within the next year or two.
"But with no fixed time schedule, it is difficult to fully communicate plans to carriers, as under German law nothing can start without a complete project plan," said the spokesman.