{{Infobox port | name = Esbjerg | image = File:Esbjerg - Hafen1.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Port of Esbjerg | country = Denmark | native_name = | native_name_lang = | location = North Sea | coordinates = {{Coord|55|27|48|N|8|26|49|E|type:landmark_region:DE-HB|display=inline,title}} <ref name="fap-1">{{cite web |title=Port of Esbjerg, Denmark |url=https://www.findaport.com/port-of-esbjerg |website=www.findaport.com |publisher= Lloyd’s Register OneOcean |access-date= 26 November 2025}}</ref> | locode = DKEBJ<ref name="locode-1">{{cite web |title=UNLOCODE (DK) - Denmark |url=https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/dk.htm |website=unece.org |publisher=UNECE |access-date= 26 November 2025}}</ref> | opened = | operated = | owner = | type = | sizewater = | sizeland = | size = | berths = 66<ref name="fap-1"/> | wharfs = | piers = | draft_depth = {{convert|11.5|metres}}<ref name="fap-1"/> | employees = | arrivals = | cargotonnage = | containervolume = | cargovalue = | passengertraffic = | website = }}
thumb|Sailing ships in Esbjerg Harbour
The '''Port of Esbjerg''' on the southwest coast of Jutland is a competitor to Aarhus and Hamburg for freight. Built by the State in 1868, it was once Denmark's principal fishing harbour but today has become Europe's leading port for shipping offshore wind turbines.
== History == Esbjerg was established in 1868 as a replacement for the harbour in Altona,<ref>{{cite book|title=Dansk litteraturs historie: 1870-1920|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9jVckGVrlaIC&pg=PA14|year=2009|publisher=Gyldendal A/S|isbn=978-87-02-04184-2|page=14}}</ref> which had previously been Denmark's most important North Sea port but came under German control after the Second Schleswig War in 1864. The harbour was officially opened in 1874. The same year, it benefited from Esbjerg's rail connection to Fredericia on the east coast of Jutland.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Jylland/Jylland_-_byer/Esbjerg?highlight=esbjerg%20havn|title=Esbjerg|encyclopedia=Den Store Danske|accessdate=11 February 2014 |language=Danish}}</ref> The initial development of the harbour was completed in 1874. It quickly became a hub for exporting agricultural goods to England, especially butter and bacon. Thanks to the harbour's shipping facilities, by the end of the 19th century, livestock production in the surrounding region increased significantly.<ref name=kulteh>{{cite web|url=http://www.kulturstyrelsen.dk/index.php?id=20786|title=Esbjerg Havn|publisher=Kultur Styrelsen|accessdate=12 February 2014 |language=Danish}}</ref> From the beginning of the 20th century, Esbjerg attracted fishermen from across the country, particularly for fishing plaice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kulturarv.dk/1001fortaellinger/en_GB/theme/herring-cod-and-other-fish/article|title=Herring, cod and other fish|publisher=Kulturarv.dk|author=Søren Byskov|accessdate=12 February 2014 |language=}}</ref> Located some {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}}, Blåvand Lighthouse has served traffic from the Port of Esbjerg since its construction in 1900.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kulturstyrelsen.dk/vadehavet-kulturarvsatlas/kulturmiljoeer/blaavandshuk/ |title=Blåvandshuk |language=Danish |publisher=Heritage Agency |date=17 June 2013 |accessdate=12 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004223204/http://www.kulturstyrelsen.dk/vadehavet-kulturarvsatlas/kulturmiljoeer/blaavandshuk/ |archivedate=4 October 2013 }}</ref>
The Port of Esbjerg was administered by the State until 2000 when it became privately controlled under Esbjerg Municipality. Today it is one of the four largest ports in Denmark enjoying a central position in the region's infrastructure. In addition to container and passenger traffic, it has attracted fish-processing activities and marine repair work as well as a wide variety of supporting services.<ref name=kulteh/>
==Ferries== DFDS formerly operated an overnight passenger ferry to Harwich in the south of England, taking about 12 hours. The service ended on 29 September 2014 after 140 years. Over the years since there has been several rumors of a restart of passenger transport, but by September 2021 no new ferry service has been opened.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/ferry-routes/denmark/harwich-to-esbjerg/?src=COM |title=Ferry from Harwich - Esbjerg - Travel by Ferry to Denmark|publisher=DFDS Seaways|accessdate=12 February 2014 |language=}}</ref>
There were also ferry connections between Esbjerg and Newcastle but these have been discontinued.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.faergejournalen.dk/DFDS_Udenrigs/KronprinsFrederik_1941.html |title=Kronprins Frederik|publisher=faergejournalen.dk|accessdate=12 February 2014 |language=}}</ref> In the years leading up to 2014, the number of passengers using the port per annum averaged 1.8 million.<ref name=stats>{{cite web|url=http://www.portesbjerg.dk/en/about-port-of-esbjerg--figures-and-statistics.aspx |title=Statistics|publisher=Port of Esbjerg|accessdate=12 February 2014|language=|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140222233713/http://www.portesbjerg.dk/en/about-port-of-esbjerg--figures-and-statistics.aspx |archive-date=22 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> DFDS has freight ferries to Port of Immingham.<ref>{{cite web |title=Esbjerg port |url=https://www.freightlink.co.uk/ferry-port/esbjerg |website=www.freightlink.co.uk}}</ref>
==Harbour details== The Port of Esbjerg covers a total land area of 3.5 million m2 (1.35 sq miles), has {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} of quays and an alongside depth of some {{convert|4.5|m|abbr=on}}. The Tauruskay offshore wharf has a depth of {{convert|6.3|m|abbr=on}} while the bulk cargo Australienkaj, the Europakaj and the Vestkraftkaj for containers all have an alongside depth of {{convert|10.5|m|abbr=on}}. The Englandskaj serving passenger traffic has a length of {{convert|310|m|abbr=on}} and an alongside depth of {{convert|7.6|m|abbr=on}} while the Færgehavn handling containers, passengers and ferries over a length of {{convert|420|m|abbr=on}} has an alongside depth varying from {{convert|4.4|m|abbr=on}} to {{convert|9.3|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/commerce/DNK_Port_of_Esbjerg_563.php|title=Port of Esbjerg: Port Commerce|publisher=Port Source|accessdate=12 February 2014 |language=}}</ref> Other wharfs include the Humberkaj for frozen cargoes, the Containerkaj for roll-on, roll-off containerized cargoes and the Oliebro for liquid bulk carriers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/commerce/DNK_Port_of_Esbjerg_563.php|title=Port of Esbjerg: Port Commerce|publisher=Port Source|accessdate=12 February 2014 |language=}}</ref>
In recent years, the port has handled some 4 million tons of cargo a year, of which some 500,000 tons have been liquid fuels.<ref name=stats/>
== Offshore == thumb|A portion of Esbjerg offshore wind port Esbjerg has served the Danish offshore industry since oil and gas was first extracted from the North Sea in the early 1970s. More recently, it has become a centre for shipping offshore wind turbines. In addition to handling 65 percent of all Danish wind turbines (which now supply 3 GW of offshore wind power), the port has shipped components to various British wind farms. In order to cope with future increases in Danish offshore wind power, twelve companies including DONG Energy and Bluewater Energy Services are planning the establishment of a Green Offshore Centre in Esbjerg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://denmark.dk/en/green-living/wind-energy/an-ocean-of-wind-turbines/ |title=An ocean of wind turbines - Green Offshore|author=Jan Aagaard|publisher=Denmark.dk|accessdate=11 February 2014 |language=}}</ref> In this connection, in June 2013 the port was significantly expanded with the opening of the Østhavn (East Harbour) covering an area of {{convert|650000|m2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portesbjerg.dk/en/about-port-of-esbjerg--the-latest--the-latest--new-oesthavn-will-boost-port-of-esbjerg-growth-potential.aspx |title=New Østhavn will boost Port of Esbjerg growth potential|publisher=Port of Esbjerg|date=21 June 2013|accessdate=11 February 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl= https://archive.today/20140212082553/http://www.portesbjerg.dk/en/about-port-of-esbjerg--the-latest--the-latest--new-oesthavn-will-boost-port-of-esbjerg-growth-potential.aspx |archivedate=12 February 2014}}</ref> Further expansion started in 2017, including two roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities<ref>{{cite web|url= http://renews.biz/106049/esbjerg-kicks-off-port-expansion/ |title=Esbjerg kicks off port expansion|work=reNEWS - Renewable Energy News|date=24 February 2017|accessdate=26 February 2017}}</ref> and a Liebherr crane lifting 300 tonnes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Memija |first1=Adnan |title=Port of Esbjerg Orders Another Liebherr Crane to Handle Next-Gen Turbines |url=https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/07/18/port-of-esbjerg-orders-another-liebherr-crane-to-handle-next-gen-turbines/ |website=Offshore Wind |date=18 July 2022}}</ref> The port became the world's largest offshore wind port.<ref>{{cite book |title=Annual report Port of Esbjerg 2018 |date=2018 |url=https://portesbjerg.dk/sites/default/files/eh_arsberetning_2018_en_web.pdf |access-date=29 April 2022}}</ref> {{convert|100000|m2|abbr=on}} is reserved for decommissioned wind turbines.<ref>{{cite web |title=Old turbines create new business |url=https://portesbjerg.dk/en/about/news/old-turbines-create-new-business |website=Port of Esbjerg |date=3 July 2019}}</ref>
==See also== *Fisheries and Maritime Museum, Esbjerg, tracing the history of the region's fisheries and shipping
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Esbjerg}}
Category:Transport in Esbjerg Category:Buildings and structures in Esbjerg Esbjerg Category:1868 establishments in Denmark