Closure of the railway bridge

The alpha and omega for ports is access from both the waterside and the landside. So if there is insufficient clean-up or a ship cannot pass under a bridge, access is either very limited or impossible. The smaller ports in the western Limfjord are struggling with both. Already a year ago, it was announced that the railway bridge over the Limfjord would be closed for seven weeks in the fall of 2016 from 20 September. This means restrictions on operations for ports and shipping companies in the western Limfjord, which is home to six small commercial ports: Skive, Struer, Lemvig, Aggersund, Nykøbing M and Thisted. It is already challenging enough to run the small ports, and when sailing conditions are also restricted, it becomes even more difficult. Therefore, the activities were attempted to be planned after the announced closure, when ships could not get east in and out of the Limfjord. The maritime organizations have protested on behalf of their members. BaneDanmark could not meet the requests but clarified that they would only open for one night opening in the next month and then keep the bridge flaps down completely. Why the bridge is better able to open at night than during the day is not clear. But in reality, the bridge will only really open to traffic again on January 8, 2016. This is obviously not satisfactory for the ports and the companies that depend on maritime transport and that have tried to adapt to an overall societal desire to have the railway bridge repaired. But it is satisfactory that it was possible to arrange a meeting on October 3 between BaneDanmark and the maritime interests in the area, including Danske Havne, which will be represented by board member Jens Peder Hedevang. Here, BaneDanmark showed willingness to be a little more flexible, so that commercial traffic can be opened during the daytime hours until the total closure in November, and the length of the warnings will be reviewed. After November, the bridge will not open until January. BaneDanmark is expected to send out information about the conditions. See Danske Havne's latest consultation response here For more information. Contact Bjarne Løf Henriksen, Danish Ports, and read more news from Danish Ports here.