back to overview

The Old Ships at Sandtorkai

1 - August 11, 1855, was a special day for the old Hanseatic city of Hamburg. The first artificially constructed harbor basin was officially opened. Two days later, the first steamships, the "Germania" and the "Planet", entered the new harbor.2 - Until then, ships in the Port of Hamburg usually tied up at dolphins—piles driven into the bed of the Elbe, either singly or in groups. The ships could then be laboriously loaded and unloaded over planks. Until around 1860, almost all ships sailing the seas were sailing ships; only after that did steamships gradually become more common.

3 - Until then, ships in the Port of Hamburg usually moored at dolphins. These were piles driven into the bed of the Elbe, either singly or in groups. Ships could then be laboriously loaded and unloaded over planks. Until around 1860, almost all ships sailing the seas were sailing ships; only after that did steamships gradually become widespread.

4 - At the new Hamburg harbour basin, called Sandtorhafen, a quay and a quay wall were built first. Ships moored alongside this quay wall. Cranes powered by steam engines lifted the goods out of the holds and placed them directly on the quay, from where they could be taken to nearby warehouses. Alternatively, they were loaded straight onto horse-drawn carts or railway wagons and transported onwards.

5 - This was much faster, so far more goods could be handled. Warehouses made of brick were soon built near Sandtorhafen. Over the next few decades, many more docks were built in Hamburg. They were all laid out according to the same plan. This is how the Port of Hamburg became one of the largest in Europe.

6 - The old Sandtor harbor soon became too small as ships grew ever larger. Eventually, hardly any ships could be loaded or unloaded there, the old harbor warehouses fell into disrepair, and silt built up in the harbor basin.

7 - In the meantime, however, the area around the old Sandtor harbour has been transformed into a new Hamburg district: HafenCity. Old warehouse buildings are being turned into apartments and offices, and new buildings are going up along the old quays. HafenCity is entirely surrounded by rivers and canals. Around 14,000 people are expected to live in an area of approximately 2.2 square kilometres, with 45,000 jobs available. 

8 - The Sandtorhafen was dredged, and the Sandtorkai, Hamburg’s oldest quay wall, was restored. A pontoon system was installed in the harbour basin. It is 380 metres long and provides moorings for around 20 to 25 small vessels. For several years now, a number of ships that served for decades have been moored here. They are still operational, but have been replaced on their former routes by more modern vessels. Today they attract many visitors, and you can sometimes book a tour on board. They are managed by a foundation and maintained and operated by volunteer sailors.

9 - Three cranes were also installed in what is now Sandtorhafen to lift general cargo. In the foreground is the Flusschifferkirche, Germany’s only church aboard a ship. The former cargo barge was consecrated as a floating church in 1952 and still welcomes worshippers on the water today.