Ship chandlers & ship supply at Hamburg DEHAM

The port stretches across 87 sq km, with nautical limits from Tinsdal (Elbe-km 639) upstream to Oortkaten (km 607.5), and its Harbour Master sits within the Hamburg Port Authority. It lies 145 km — 76 nautical miles — from the port border to the mouth of the Elbe.^[1,2]

—Volume: 114.6 million tonnes of seaborne cargo in 2025 (up 2.6%), including 8.3 million TEU (up 7.3%) and 32.4 million tonnes of bulk (down 1.7%).^[4]

—Container terminals with shore power connections: Burchardkai (CTB), Tollerort (CTT), Altenwerder (CTA) and CTH (Eurogate). Cruise ships berth at CC1 HafenCity, CC2 Altona and CC3 Steinwerder.^[7]

—Port rules: the speed limit for commercial traffic is 10 knots; anchoring is prohibited outside the channel buoyage of the Elbe and Köhlbrand unless the HPA permits it.^[1]

The second stage of the Elbe fairway adjustment was released on 24 January 2022, adding 1.00–1.90 m of draught. Port of Hamburg Marketing gives a 350 m × 46 m container ship 13.80 m independent of the tide and up to 16.10 m inbound on the tide; a megamax ship (400 m × 62.5 m) 13.10 m independent of the tide, 14.10 m outbound and 15.40 m inbound on the tide. An 8 km passing box near Wedel lets ships with a combined beam under 104 m pass.^[3,2]

—Elbe pilotage: the Elbe pilots cover the river from the “E 3” buoy in the German Bight to Hamburg, from stations at the ELBE light buoy (the principal station), Cuxhaven, Brunsbüttel and Hamburg; Brunsbüttel is the interface for ships to and from Hamburg and the Kiel Canal. Pilotage is compulsory from E3 for tankers over 150 m long or 23 m beam, bulk carriers over 220 m or 32 m, and other ships over 350 m or 55 m.^[1]

—Ordering the Elbe pilot: 12 hours before arrival at the pilot station, by e-mail (preferred) or phone, with the requested boarding time and area — without those two, the guide warns no pilot is available — then confirm 1 hour before on VHF 08. For the German Bight boarding stations, give notice 24 and 12 hours ahead and confirm 2 hours before.^[1]

—Harbour pilotage is compulsory for tankers and for seagoing ships of 90 m or longer or 13 m beam or more. Harbour pilots board near buoy 130, or off Blankenese west of buoy 133 for ships larger than 335 m × 45 m; call sign “Hamburg Pilot” on VHF 09.^[1]

—VTS: the HPA runs it in the port (“Hamburg Port Traffic”, VHF 14) and the federal waterways administration on the river (“Cuxhaven Elbe Traffic”, VHF 71; “Brunsbüttel Elbe Traffic”, VHF 68). It is mandatory for ships of 50 m or longer and for ships carrying dangerous goods in bulk.^[1]

—Berth approval at least 24 hours before arrival from the HPA’s Nautical Central, with name, call sign, flag, size, draught, agent and ETA; departures need at least 2 hours’ notice. Border-control data (crew, passenger, port-of-call and weapons lists) are due 24 hours before arrival from a foreign port.^[5,1]

—Bunkers and water: the Harbour Master’s guide says all kinds of fuels and lubricating oils are available and fresh water comes by barge, ordered through the agent before arrival; spills are reported to Hamburg Port Traffic on VHF 14. Bunkering alternative fuels with a flash point below 55 °C outside the tanker harbours needs a Hamburg Water Police permit — allow at least 5 working days for a first application.^[1,6]

—MARPOL waste: ship-generated waste has to be delivered to port reception facilities, and every seagoing ship pays a fee for Annex I and Annex V waste whether it delivers or not. Twelve tankers (5,200 m³) work around the clock for waterside disposal. Under the EU Port Reception Facilities Directive, the advance waste notification is due at least 24 hours before arrival.^[1,9]

—Shore power: ordered 48 hours ahead through the owner or the port agent. From 2027 the port expects every shore-power-capable cruise ship to plug in; from 2030 FuelEU Maritime requires container and cruise ships over 5,000 GT to use shore power at berth.^[7,8]

—Provisions and stores come by truck or barge (except on tanker berths), ordered through your agent. Post a requirement and suppliers serving Hamburg answer with sealed bids; suppliers never see the vessel’s name until award. If you serve ships in the port, activate Hamburg.^[1]