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Klaksvík Places More Bets on North Quay |
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Written by B. Tyril
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Monday, 14 April 2008 |
The Port of Klaksvík — the best sheltered in the Faroes — could be poised for large increases in throughput as it extends the new North Quay by another 100 meters of deepwater berth to accommodate commercial development.
Klaksvík, the biggest whitefish port in the Faroe Islands, is placing more bets on its newly developed North Quay. In early 2008, the terminal was extended by another 100 m of berth space to facilitate efficient loading and unloading next to a 5,000-tonne capacity cold storage facility set to open there in the spring.
Also known as the Ánir Cargo Terminal, the now 300 m long North Quay was opened in 2005 and subsequently equipped with a 30-meter wide ramp to accommodate ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) ferry traffic. A 20,000m2 container storage area alongside the North Quay likewise contributes to the recent upgrade of the Port of Klaksvík.
Easily accessible in all weather conditions, with 12 m depth alongside its entire length, the North Quay is ideal for receiving freezer trawlers, container ships and cruise liners, according to Hans Hendrik Mikkelsen, a construction engineer with the Municipality of Klaksvík.
As the man charged with overseeing the technical side of Port of Klaksvík harbor development, Mr Mikkelsen is in the final stages of planning a customs clearance area for inbound passengers at the North Quay. While sharing the belief that the North Quay could generate added business for Klaksvík, he nonetheless warns that success depends on effective marketing.
“We may have the best port in the country in more than one sense, and we have been the leader in whitefish activity for many decades,” he says.
“Since the last few years we’ve been on a path of renewed growth, with a greatly enhanced capacity for handling cargo, a large deepwater berth, a new cold store and even a submarine tunnel that connects us with the rest of the country. ”
“However,” Mr Mikkelsen adds, “we will need to do more to attract new business to the North Quay. The harbor is excellent and offers an unmatched maneuverability for large vessels, in any kind of weather. Whether it’s freezer trawlers, container ships, ro-ro ferries or passenger cruise liners, this harbor is second to none in the Faroes; but the message has to be spread.”
At the Klaksvík Town Hall, information officer Jóhann Lützen has similar views on the Port and its prospects. “The North Quay has a location that makes it a great natural harbor,” he said. “It means we’re now equipped to receive all kinds of ship calls, throughout the year.”
The steep mountain landscapes surrounding the Port of Klaksvík, not least the North Quay, provide shelter against the occasional fury of the elements, and even offer other benefits.
“For instance, the time needed for a large passenger ship to take fresh water will depend on pipeline pressure,” Mr Lützen said. “The water pipelines from the slopes of these mountains can deliver as much as 450,000 liters per hour.”
He adds: “We are aware of the benefits that cruise ships can bring to our community and we’re therefore looking into various ways in which we can step up marketing efforts to attract more of them. Well, in September we’ll be hosting the 2008 Smyril Line International Sea Angling Cup, a major international sea angling competition. We hope and expect that there will be a lot of people coming and of course, we want them to become our ambassadors when they leave, eager to tell all their friends about the pleasant experience they had in Klaksvík.”
Believed to be the safest in the Faroes, the Port of Klaksvík is sheltered by high terrain on all sides and is approachable regardless of weather.
Always buzzing with activity, the port — in addition to the North Quay at Ánir — consists of three terminals. By the Maru Seafood processing facility, closer to the center of the town of Klaksvík, the Kósin Quay handles huge amounts of fish landed to the seafood processor and the neighboring fish landing station; the 260 m long terminal has depths between 8 and 9 m alongside, allowing vessels up to 180 m to dock there. A couple of hundred yards therefrom, by the center of town, is the lively Fishing Marina. On the opposite side of the fjord, the West Quay, 300 m long with a depth of 8.75 m alongside, Klaksvík’s main general-purpose berth. And finally, toward the north lies the 55 m Fuel Quay, with 8 m depth alongside.
Link to pdf presenation...
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Maritime & Related