Port of Aarhus contributes EUR 47 mill. to the Marselis Tunnel

The Port of Aarhus has decided to contribute a total of DKK 350 mill. (EUR 47 mill.) to improving road access to the port. With this decision, the Board of the Port of Aarhus is clearly signalling the importance to the future development of the port of widening Aahavevej and the construction of a tunnel under Marselis Boulevard.

In October 2011, the European Commission submitted a proposal to establish a European transport core network with 83 European ports as key hubs. The Port of Aarhus and the Port of Copenhagen are the only Danish ports included in the plan. Following the consul-tation process, the proposal is expected to be adopted at the end of 2012. It is a condition on the part of the EU that all major ports be adequately connected to the European motorway network by 2030. This means that access roads must have sufficient transport capacity and be of an environmentally acceptable standard.

With the contribution from the Port of Aarhus, the financing is now in place, and the EU’s conditions will be met in due time before 2030, as set out in the proposal.

The Port of Aarhus is thus making a substantial contribution to providing businesses in Denmark with easy access to competitive and environmentally friendly sea transport. This will be of particular importance for business developments in Jutland following the construction of the Fehmern Belt Fixed Link. The Chairman of the Board, Mayor Jacob Bundsgaard, stresses that many factors have been taken into consideration in deciding on the size of the Port of Aarhus’s contribution, notably the port’s competitive strength, the investment climate and future growth po-tential. “It has been important for us to ensure that the port would not have to increase its charges as a result of our decision,” he says, adding: “Both the EU and the Danish State, as well as the City of Aarhus and many businesses are contributing to improving accessibility, and we are therefore delighted that the Port of Aarhus itself is also able to make a very substantial contribution. And most importantly, despite this investment, the Port of Aarhus will remain a very sound and financially strong business.”

The Vice Chairman of the Board, Gert Bjerregaard, also welcomes the decision: “The Port of Aarhus creates many jobs both at and outside the port and is therefore an important growth driver in many parts of Denmark.”

The Port of Aarhus is Denmark’s largest container port with a market share of 55% of all containers passing through Danish ports. With a market share of 62%, it is also the largest port for the shipping of animal feedstuffs.

Please direct any questions to Chairman of the Board, Mayor Jacob Bundsgaard (+45 2759 4022) or Port Director Bjarne Mathiesen (+45 2060 5202).

Creation date: 27 January 2012