Automobile handling in Wilhelmshaven is experiencing strong growth with 100,000 imported cars. New bays and investments in the harbour expansion should ensure success. However, the expansion is also being criticised by environmentalists.

Wilhelmshaven – Automobile handling in Wilhelmshaven has undergone an impressive development. Germany’s only deep-water port has so far attracted attention primarily for its transition from a fossil fuel hub to a green future as an “energy hub”. And Dr Jörg Mosolf, CEO of the Mosolf Group, recognised the site’s future prospects a few years ago and is now eagerly investing in the Jade. It was important to Dr Mosolf to establish a company in Wilhelmshaven that is part of the group: Mosolf Port Logistics & Services GmbH, says branch manager Kai Wenhold. The company also has branches in Cuxhaven, Wesel and Zeebrugge in Belgium, as well as an office in Shanghai.

A new car park has been built on Hildesheimer Straße by Mosolf partner Jade Car Logistics. // PICTURE: Björn Lübbe

‘We imported around 100,000 cars via Wilhelmshaven this year, compared to around 60,000 in 2023,’ reports Wenhold.

Praise for the excellent cooperation on site

At the freight transport centre (GVZ) at the Jade-Weser-Port (JWP), the spirit of optimism can also be felt in the administration building: when they started in Wilhelmshaven in 2018, they started with three people, in the summer of 2023 there were ten employees here, and the number has now grown to 30. “Around 50 new colleagues will join us in Bremen at the turn of the year 2025 with the takeover of the Transport Overseas Group. We hope that this will also strengthen our activities in Wilhelmshaven.

Until now, the vehicles from China have been transported in containers by the shipping company Cosco and delivered directly to the Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven. This year there were around 10,000 boxes, each containing three to four cars,” says Wenhold. “Manufacturers such as BYD are increasingly investing in their own RoRo transporters for their vehicles, the first of which is expected next year. Mosolf is therefore looking forward to the ongoing feasibility study for a possible expansion of the JWP as a multi-purpose terminal, including a RoRo bridge. “The capacity in the inner harbour is limited. That is why we believe it is so important to invest in port expansion.” “We signed our first major long-term contract with the Stellantis automotive group in the autumn of 2023. Since then, three to four car transporters a month have been coming from Vigo in Spain and unloading the new vehicles via their RoRo ramp in the inner harbour,” explains Wenhold.

This is how the areas leased by Mosolf in the north of Wilhelmshaven at the Jade-Weser-Port will soon look. // PICTURE: Mosolf

Commitment honoured with a badge of honour

“We continue to work with local companies for car handling. Everyone here works very well together and helps each other when needed. We can see that everyone is keen to develop Wilhelmshaven as a port location. Mosolf itself needs space for further growth, in particular to be able to temporarily store the many cars it will be handling in the future. Lease agreements have recently been signed with Niedersachsen Ports and the City of Wilhelmshaven for additional parking space. Some areas in the north of the city are to be equipped with solar carports and are conveniently located close to the JWP. However, environmentalists complain about the ongoing deforestation of trees and bushes, as well as the extensive sealing of the site.

Jörg Mosolf’s special economic commitment was recognised this autumn: The ‘Club zu Wilhelmshaven’ awarded him the city of Wilhelmshaven’s shield of honour.