When citizens do not trust scientific findings, the foundation for an objective debate is lacking. The HPA has also experienced this firsthand in the Tideelbe region. We spoke with Dr. André Schaffrin of ifok GmbH. Together with the NGO “Progressives Zentrum,” he investigated, on behalf of the HPA, how mistrust arises and how trust can be built.

After about ten years of construction, the HPA has completed the Kreetsand shallow-water area, which is one and a half times the size of the Binnenalster. The additional floodplain positively influences tidal currents and alleviates sediment accumulation in the Tidal Elbe and the Port of Hamburg.

Transporting goods by large ocean-going vessels is particularly climate-friendly. However, to ensure that these large container ships can get as close as possible to their markets, waterways and harbor basins must be continuously cleared of excess sediment. With proper sediment management, significant reductions in climate-impacting emissions can be achieved.

Sediments in the Elbe River in Hamburg have become increasingly cleaner since the 1990s. However, a small portion of the dredged material is still so contaminated that it cannot remain in the Elbe. We therefore treat these sediments on land and dispose of them safely at our landfills.

The Port of Hamburg is Germany’s most important seaport and is essential for meeting the basic needs of the population and supporting the German export industry. Through our underwater sediment management, we ensure that the port remains accessible and competitive and continues to develop.

Hamburg is one of the top three ports in Europe. One key requirement for an overseas port of this size is that it must be accessible at all times. To ensure safe access, our dredgers must regularly clear sediment from the shipping channel.

What happens if the sediments that need to be dredged from the harbor are too heavily contaminated? They are transported to METHA—a massive facility that processes, separates, and dewatered the sediment from the Elbe River. The treated sediments are then reused or safely disposed of at our dredged material disposal sites.

The influence of the tides on the Elbe is enormous—and is growing over the years. To mitigate the effects of the tides, which cause silting in the harbor and the shipping channel, we are creating a new floodplain in eastern Hamburg: Kreetsand.