On the initiative of CDU state parliament member Hartmut Moorkamp, the “Emden-Dörpen Port Dialogue” was launched in Emsland. Representatives from both ports met with politicians and administrators at the freight transport center (GVZ) in the municipality of Dörpen. Moorkamp, who is also the port policy spokesman for the CDU parliamentary group in Lower Saxony and deputy district administrator of the Emsland district, praised the close cooperation along the Ems that has existed for more than 40 years at the start of the kick-off event. "Emden and Dörpen are well connected by the East Frisian-Emsland waterway network. More than 400 inland vessels travel between the two ports each year. This clearly shows how important well-developed waterways are for the economy," said Moorkamp, whose state constituency also includes the municipality of Dörpen. The fact that inland vessels are an environmentally friendly mode of transport is evident from the fact that one inland vessel load replaces around 60 trucks. Translated with DeepL.com (free version) 

Hermann Wocken, mayor of the municipality of Dörpen, pointed out that the UPM Nordland Papier paper mill, founded in 1967, is now one of the largest manufacturers of fine and specialty paper in Europe. With more than 1,000 employees, it is the largest employer in Dörpen. It produces more than 800,000 tons of fine, office, writing, and specialty papers per year. “The paper mill was one of the most important industrial settlements in the Emsland region after World War II,” said Wocken. It was the nucleus of the successful cooperation between Emden and Dörpen. He expressly supported the plans to expand the cooperation between the two ports. Martina Kruse, the economic development officer for the district of Emsland, also appealed to all parties involved to continue and intensify the port dialogue. 

Reinhard Hegewald, CEO of Emder Hafenförderungsgesellschaft e. V. (EHFG), explains the reasons behind the port dialogue. The two ports, which are only around 70 kilometers apart, have contributed significantly to economic development along the Ems river through their close cooperation over the past four decades. Anker Schiffahrts-Gesellschaft mbH, based in Emden's outer harbor, primarily ships cellulose, while Omya GmbH, based in Emden's inland port, primarily ships liquid chalk to Dörpen by inland waterway vessel. Both raw materials are processed in the paper industry there. In future, the GVZ will also be served by epas – Ems Ports-Agency & Stevedoring Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, based in Emden. The company wants to transport wind turbines and cable drums to the Emsland region by inland waterway vessel, store them there and then transport them on to their installation sites in Germany and Europe.

“The Ems and the Coastal Canal are already of great importance to our GVZ as the largest user of both waterways,” said Moorkamp. “This will now be further enhanced by the plans for additional goods from the port of Emden, which I am very pleased about. And that is why we will intensify the dialogue that has been initiated between the two ports and hold it regularly, alternating between Emden and Dörpen.”