In 2019, the first phase of the port expansion was completed, adding 375 meters of new quay, a new harbor basin with an 11-meter water depth, and Denmark’s first heavy load quay with capacity for the largest offshore components. The expansion created new opportunities for shipping, heavy logistics, and the next generation of offshore wind projects.
The Heavy Load Quay was developed for the largest components and the heaviest lifts in the offshore industry. With a load-bearing capacity of up to 35 tonnes per m² and direct deep-water access, the quay created new opportunities for handling and shipping the next generation of offshore wind turbines.
In 2023, Odense Port inaugurated the new Heavy Highway, a specially designed logistics road for transporting extremely large and heavy cargo, particularly components for the offshore wind industry. The road connects the production areas in the southern part of the port with the shipping facilities and is built to handle the port’s largest transports. Approximately 1 km long and 46 meters wide, the road provides safe and efficient transport of giant wind turbine components. Heavy Highway is an important part of the development of Odense Port as an international production and shipping hub for the green energy industry.
In 2020, the rail track for the iconic 1,200-tonne gantry crane was extended by 200 meters to the south. The expansion was the largest upgrade to the crane’s infrastructure in nearly 20 years and was carried out to increase capacity for handling extremely large and heavy cargo, particularly within the offshore wind industry. With the new rail extension, the gantry crane can now operate across an even larger area of the port and directly serve more companies, production facilities, and projects from the quay areas. This strengthens both logistics and flexibility in the handling of large steel structures and wind turbine components.
Odense Port has expanded with two new commercial areas measuring 170,000 m² and 65,000 m² respectively, in response to increasing demand from the maritime industry and the offshore wind sector. The areas have been constructed using sand from Odense Port’s extraction area at Paludans Flak and finished with crushed stone, creating robust and flexible areas for future activities at the port. As part of the project, a new green planting belt has also been established along the area.
The new raw materials terminal at Odense Inner Harbor has been developed for efficient handling and transshipment of bulk materials such as sand, gravel, and stone, with direct access to both quay and road infrastructure. The terminal strengthens logistics for the construction industry and provides modern facilities for receiving, storing, and onward transport of materials for projects across Funen and the rest of Denmark.
In 2024, Odense Port broke ground on its largest hall project to date. The new 10,000 m² complex with six production and logistics halls has been developed to meet growing demand from the wind industry and the maritime sector. Even before construction was completed, dialogue with the first tenants had already begun.
The large LORC test facility at Odense Port has been developed for handling and testing some of the world’s largest offshore wind components. The building is designed so that the gantry crane can move directly over the hall, while the roof can be removed, allowing enormous components to be lifted directly in and out of the building from the quay side. This makes it possible to handle and test very large components at full scale under realistic conditions. The facility is designed for heavy lifting, advanced testing equipment, and components of a size that only very few facilities in the world can accommodate. In addition, an administrative extension with office and shared facilities has been established as part of the building.
