Recently, the largest port in Germany, the Port of Hamburg, announced a significant infrastructure investment plan totaling 1.1 billion euros (approximately 9.245 billion RMB). This investment project includes channel expansion and increasing terminal throughput capacity.

The core of this investment is the transformation of the Elbe River channel leading to Waltershofer Hafen, one of the main container terminals in the Port of Hamburg (including the CTB and CTH terminals). After the transformation, the turning basin width of the channel will be expanded from 480 meters to 600 meters, providing greater maneuverability for ultra-large container ships.

Currently, about 90% of the world's largest container ships calling at the Port of Hamburg operate in this turning basin. The wider turning area will enhance navigational safety and vessel operational efficiency, enabling the Port of Hamburg to accommodate the demands of even larger vessels in the future, benefiting all berths at Waltershofer Hafen.

In addition to channel widening, the Port of Hamburg will develop new land to expand terminal yard capacity, increase terminal throughput, and create conditions for the port's automation and electrification transformation. These terminal areas will be developed by the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and are planned to be completed by the mid-2030s, with most of the costs covered by public funds and leased to the Eurogate Group in the future. The Eurogate Group currently operates the CTH terminal in the Port of Hamburg and has committed to investing at least 700 million euros in expanding and upgrading the existing terminals.