Aschaffenburg harbor

Aschaffenburg harbor (bayernhafen Aschaffenburg) is one of six locations of the bayernhafen Gruppe, situated on the Bavarian side of the Rhine-Main region at Main kilometer 83.0. It connects the transport modes of water, rail, and road, acting as a logistics hub for the Bavarian Rhine-Main area. The harbor is part of the 3,500-kilometer Rhine-Main-Danube waterway linking the North Sea and the Black Sea, and provides regional businesses access to international transport networks via the Main river and the ARA ports (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp). The harbor covers 160 hectares and hosts around 60 companies from logistics, production, recycling, supply, and services, employing approximately 2,500 people. The harbor itself employs about 35 staff. Its infrastructure includes two harbor basins, 3,454 meters of quay length, 21 km of harbor-owned rail tracks, a combined transport terminal, and a heavy-lift cargo handling facility. In 2016, approximately four million tonnes were handled; in 2024, total throughput was 1.27 million tonnes, with 586,577 tonnes by ship and 681,080 tonnes by rail. Functional focuses include industrial logistics, renewable energies, and recycling/raw materials. Historically, the harbor was built between 1914 and 1921, opening on 3 November 1921. It was administered by the Bayerische Landhafenverwaltung from 1925 and became part of the privately organized Bayernhafen GmbH & Co. KG on 1 June 2005. The harbor has undergone significant modernization, including a container terminal in operation since 1999 and conversion of former power plant sites into a multi-use economic area since the early 2000s. Today, it remains a key logistics hub, also offering cruise services for river cruise ships.

The construction of Aschaffenburg harbor was decided by the 1906 state treaty between Bavaria, Prussia, Baden, and Hesse, which mandated the expansion of the Main river for large-scale shipping. Building began in 1914 and the harbor was officially opened on 3 November 1921. In 1925, the Bavarian state established the Bayerische Landhafenverwaltung and created harbor offices in Ludwigshafen, Aschaffenburg, Regensburg, and Passau. From 1 January 1926, the Aschaffenburg harbor office administered the facilities in the New Harbor and the raft and trade harbor. The New Harbor was the largest contiguous industrial and commercial area on the Bavarian Lower Main. Early key cargoes included coal and coke for the region and for Deutsche Reichsbahn steam locomotives. By 1924, 28 larger businesses had settled in the harbor, mainly forwarding agents, shipping companies, industrial firms, and coal wholesalers. During World War II, the harbor was damaged; the battle for Aschaffenburg began on 25 March 1945 with an aerial mine dropped on the harbor, and the city was occupied by US forces on 3 April 1945. After the war, Bavaria lost the Rhine ports of Ludwigshafen, Speyer, and Maximiliansau, leaving Regensburg and Aschaffenburg as state harbor offices. On 1 April 1953, the harbor offices were consolidated into a commercially managed economic enterprise, laying the foundation for entrepreneurial orientation. In 1960, former Wehrmacht areas were developed for industrial settlements ("Industriepark Südwest"), now home to logistics companies such as DSV. In the 1960s, coal's importance declined while mineral oil handling increased. In 1972, the Stockstadt handling point (Kai 6) was commissioned to supply a paper factory with coal, cellulose, calcium carbonate, and heavy oil. The 1990s saw infrastructure modernization, with over 25 million DM invested in quays and new cranes. Five modern cranes enable cargo handling up to 50 tonnes. The container terminal has been in operation since 1999. On 1 June 2005, following a 2004 cabinet decision, the Bayerische Landhafenverwaltung became the privately organized Bayernhafen GmbH & Co. KG, marking a new era for the former state ports. Since the early 2000s, bayernhafen has converted former power plant and switchgear sites into a multi-use economic area, exemplifying its strategy of land recycling. In 2016, the harbor handled about four million tonnes; by 2024, total throughput was 1.27 million tonnes (586,577 t by ship, 681,080 t by rail). The harbor continues to invest in infrastructure, including additional berths and shore power for river cruise ships.

• 2024

  Total throughput of 1.27 million tonnes (586,577 t by ship, 681,080 t by rail).

• 2016

  Approximately four million tonnes handled.

• 2005

  Bayerische Landhafenverwaltung becomes Bayernhafen GmbH & Co. KG on 1 June.

• 1999

  Container terminal begins operation.

• 1972

  Stockstadt handling point (Kai 6) commissioned.

• 1960

  Development of former Wehrmacht areas for industrial settlements (Industriepark Südwest).

• 1953

  Harbor offices consolidated into a commercially managed economic enterprise.

• 1926

  Aschaffenburg harbor office begins administering the New Harbor and raft/trade harbor.

• 1925

  Bavarian state establishes Bayerische Landhafenverwaltung and harbor offices.

• 1921

  Harbor officially opened on 3 November.

• 1914

  Construction of Aschaffenburg harbor begins.

• 1906

  State treaty between Bavaria, Prussia, Baden, and Hesse decides expansion of the Main for large-scale shipping.

Logistics hub for the Bavarian Rhine-Main region, connecting water, rail, and road transport.

• Container terminal

• Combined transport terminal

• Heavy-lift cargo handling

• Cruise services

1. 1bayernhafen - Aschaffenburg | Main Hafen | Container-Terminalbayernhafen.de
2. 2bayernhafen - Downloadsbayernhafen.de
3. 3bayernhafen cruise services | Anlegestellen für Kreuzfahrtschiffebayernhafen.de
4. 4Aschaffenburg harborwikidata.org
5. 5Hafen Aschaffenburgde.wikipedia.org