Cuxhaven, March 18, 2026 – At the construction site for berths 5 through 7 in the Port of Cuxhaven, State Premier Olaf Lies met with representatives from the business community, politics, and port operations to learn about the progress of the port expansion and the location’s role in the energy transition. The on-site visit was hosted by Niedersachsen Ports.
Gastgeber des Termins vor Ort war NiedersachsenPorts.

The discussion focused on the development of port infrastructure, the economic momentum of the offshore wind industry, and Cuxhaven’s strategic importance for energy and industrial policy. Mayor Uwe Santjer emphasized the close interconnection between port development, employment, and urban development. He noted that the expansion is part of a comprehensive structural reorganization of Cuxhaven, which includes not only industrial growth but also housing development, infrastructure, and the recruitment of skilled workers.

Knut Kokkelink, branch manager of NiedersachsenPorts in Cuxhaven, provided an update on the current status of construction work. With approximately 1.2 kilometers of new quay frontage and extensive hinterland areas, additional capacity is being created for heavy-haul logistics, cargo handling, and industrial use. Approximately 20,000 tons of steel have already been installed; backfilling work is currently underway. Completion is scheduled for 2028.

The Cuxhaven Port Authority views the port as a key component of Germany’s energy transition. Last year, 5,275 wind energy components were handled by Cuxhaven Port Operations. Approximately 80 percent of the rotor blades for German offshore projects are processed through the port. The total handling volume now stands at around five gigawatts per year.

“Cuxhaven is now a key hub for the energy transition,” said Arne Ehlers, CEO of the Cuxhaven Port Industry Association. “An integrated offshore cluster combining production, logistics, and port operations is taking shape here—one that is unique in its form.”

Alongside the port expansion, local companies are also investing in new capacity. The total investment volume in Cuxhaven is thus approaching the three-billion-euro mark. This development is largely driven by close cooperation between the business community, local government, and politicians, and is considered a key competitive advantage for the region.

Prime Minister Olaf Lies emphasized the strategic importance of Cuxhaven for Lower Saxony and Germany. He noted that the energy transition is not merely a climate policy initiative, but equally an industrial policy project. This requires a clear direction and reliable framework conditions. “Investments on this scale require trust,” Lies said.

At the same time, the Port Industry Association highlighted existing challenges. Mixed signals at the federal and European levels are currently causing uncertainty within the industry. Given the long-term nature of investment cycles, stable and reliable policy conditions are of paramount importance.

“Anyone who wants to consistently drive forward the expansion of offshore wind energy must ensure planning certainty,” Ehlers emphasized. “This applies in particular to grid expansion, the development of storage technologies, as well as the optimization of auction procedures and the fine-tuning of the regulatory framework.”

For the Port Business Association, one thing is clear: Cuxhaven is ready to further expand its role as a leading offshore hub. The expansion of the port infrastructure creates the necessary conditions for this. It will be crucial that the political framework supports this course.
langfristig und konsistent unterstützen.