Got a question?
Karin Rix Holländer
Executive Assistant MA
In late November 2017, the Port of Esbjerg opened a newly built service yard to provide a base for all port operations and services. It also opened a new employee centre for port workers. “The new buildings enable us to provide better and more efficient support for port operations,” explains Henrik Theilgaard, technical director at the Port of Esbjerg.
In August 2016, the Management Board of the Port of Esbjerg approved plans to build the new service yard and employee centre. Since then, construction progressed at full speed and the new buildings were put into operation in late November.
The new service yard will provide a base for 25 workers who manage port operations and maintenance. In addition to offices, a canteen and changing room, the yard also comprises a mechanical workshop, a smithy-cum-carpentry workshop and garages. John Fritsen has managed the service yard for the past 14 years at the H.E. Bluhmesvej address. He sees the new facilities as a significant improvement:
“The new buildings are tailored to the jobs we perform, making us more efficient. For example, we now have an overhead travelling crane for heavy towage operations, wider gates, larger inspection pits and more space in general. This means we’ll be able to provide a better service to the port’s customers,” he says.
Opposite the service yard stands the new employee centre, which will provide a base for 80–120 port employees working in the port on a daily basis. The employee centre has a canteen, changing room, fitness room and common room.
The new service yard is situated on Taurusvej, at the junction of Gammelby Ringvej, bringing it closer to port operations.
The employee centre has facilities for 80 full-time dock workers and room for a further 40. The centre includes a changing room and bathroom, sauna, drying room, assembly area, kitchen, meeting rooms and fitness facilities.
A new service yard for new times
A great deal has happened at the Port of Esbjerg since the old service yard at the H.E. Bluhmesvej address was originally built. At the time, the port’s main services were linked to North Sea fishing. Today the port’s biggest jobs centre around RoRo, wind, oil and gas operations, with most activities taking place in the southern and eastern ports.
“The bulk of our operations have moved to the other end of the port. Under the circumstances, it only makes sense that our service yard should also be there,” Henrik Theilgaard explains.
The new service yard will, above all, minimise the service staff’s transfer time because the old service yard was situated farther away.
“We’re now closer to the jobs we do, which is important for efficiency,” Henrik Theilgaard says.
The mechanical workshop in the new service yard.
The smithy-cum-carpentry workshop in the new service yard.
The electical workshop in the new service yard.
Old buildings get a new lease of life
“The fact that we now have the new facilities doesn’t mean that the old service yard and the old assembly house will fall into disuse,” says Henrik Theilgaard.
Indeed, the service yard at H.E. Bluhmesvej and the old employee centre have already been bought by local companies.
Go to overview