It is not only Danish business that benefits from the Fehmarn project. The construction work has gradually kicked into gear on the German side as well, and this provides full order books for North German companies.
– We are pleased that such a large number of North German companies are already contributing their know-how to the construction of this once-in-a-century project. Even in the construction phase, it can be seen that the region and the whole of the north will benefit from this, says Dr. Philipp Murmann, chairman of the Business Association Nord, in a press release from Femern A/S.
Most from Schleswig-Holstein
Most of the companies come from Schleswig-Holstein. 36 companies based in the northernmost federal state have already received an order. Some companies from the island of Fehmarn are also involved in the construction of the tunnel, which will connect them with the neighboring Danish island of Lolland from 2029. The Fehmarn company Scheel thus laid drainage lines when the German construction site was opened.
Many examples
There are many examples of North German companies: The Gollan company from Ostholstein built, among other things, the three kilometer long central construction road on the German tunnel construction site. Grothe Bau from Lübeck had previously carried out important development work and laid several kilometers of water pipes and cables near Puttgarden. The forest and landscape maintenance company Claus Rodenberg, based in Kastorf in Lauenburg, was tasked, among other things, with establishing compensation areas for protected bird species on Fehmarn and implementing other nature protection measures on the construction site.
Many other orders are connected to the construction process, from electrical installations to advice and cleaning to disposal. This also includes security services. Kieler Wach- und Sicherheitgesellschaft has been tasked with securing the construction site near Puttgarden.
Northern Europe’s most important infrastructure project
– Our companies from the region are helping to build what is currently Northern Europe’s most important infrastructure project. We are proud of that, emphasizes Hagen Goldbeck, chairman of IHK Schleswig-Holstein, who emphasizes that many orders also went to small and medium-sized companies:
– This strengthens the regional economy, and with their participation in the construction, they recommend themselves for further projects of this kind, he says.
Examples from all over Germany
There are also examples beyond Schleswig-Holstein: The Bremen-based special construction company Sterk has, among other things, installed 1,200 meters of steel sheet piles to seal the excavation trench in which the German tunnel portal is being built. AWAS Anlagentechnik from Tribsees in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has been commissioned to set up a pumping station at the Puttgarden construction site.
Maritime expertise from Northern Germany is also in demand for construction work at sea. For example, EMS Offshore Service from Emden in Lower Saxony supplies the patrol vessels that permanently patrol the working areas at sea and thus represent an important part of traffic safety in the Fehmarn Belt.
– The variety of orders already placed with North German companies is impressive – especially considering that many more will follow in the coming years. We are happy about the great opportunities for our regional companies to participate in the construction and perhaps later the operation of the tunnel, says Arno Probst, chairman of the Fehmarn Belt Business Council.
607 companies involved
A total of 607 companies have been involved since the start of the tunnel construction in the summer of 2020 – both on the Danish and German sides.
– We are happy that, in addition to Danish companies, there are also many northern German companies involved in the construction of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel. It shows that the tunnel is a deeply European project, but at the same time a regional project, says managing director, Henrik Vincentsen, from Femern A/S.
