Port of Bremerhaven shipping is about one long container quay on the Weser estuary, one of Europe's largest car terminals and a strong rail link into southern Germany and Central Europe. The port handled 4.9 million TEU in 2025, and big ships berth on the river without passing a lock. This guide covers the terminals, cars, reefer and dangerous goods rules, the free zone, customs and how we move your cargo from Dubai to Bremerhaven. We ship both ways: from Dubai to Bremerhaven and from Bremerhaven to Dubai.
Port of Bremerhaven shipping: key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Port manager | bremenports GmbH & Co. KG, 100% owned by the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen |
| Customs office | Zollamt Bremerhaven (code DE002452), under Hauptzollamt Bremen |
| UN/LOCODE | DEBRV |
| Location | Weser estuary, about 32 nautical miles from the open sea and about 65 km from Bremen city |
| Container quay | 4,930 m, 14 berths for the largest ships, 41 container cranes |
| Water depth at the container terminal | 14 to 16.5 m |
| Container terminal area | About 2.9 million m² |
| Container operators | EUROGATE Container Terminal Bremerhaven, MSC Gate, North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven (NTB) |
| Containers handled in 2025 | 4.9 million TEU, up 10.3% on 2024 |
| Vehicles handled in 2025 | 1.25 million units at the auto terminal |
| Rail share of hinterland container traffic | Over 50% |
| Cargo types | Containers (dry and reefer), cars and Ro-Ro, high and heavy rolling cargo, fruit and frozen goods, cruise passengers |
| Free zone | Parts of the port are an EU free zone under Article 243 of the Union Customs Code |
| German import VAT | 19% standard, 7% reduced |
| Shipping to Dubai | EU export declaration in ATLAS by the shipper or its German agent; arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah |
Where is Bremerhaven and how is it different from Hamburg?
Bremerhaven sits where the Weser meets the North Sea. The container terminal lies about 32 nautical miles from the open sea, so deep-sea ships reach the quay without a long river passage. Bremen city, which runs the port, is about 65 km upriver.
The ports of Bremen work as one group. Bremerhaven takes the containers, cars, fruit and cruise ships. The city of Bremen keeps the breakbulk, heavy-lift and bulk berths. If your cargo is a container or a car, think Bremerhaven. If it is a heavy machine or steel on a breakbulk ship, the Bremen side may be the better call.
Hamburg is Germany's bigger box port, with 8.3 million TEU in 2025. Bremerhaven is the smaller, river-mouth alternative. Your choice usually comes down to which carrier service you book and where your consignee sits. We compare the two in a table further down.
Which container terminals does the Port of Bremerhaven have?
Bremerhaven has one continuous container quay of 4,930 m, which bremenports calls one of the largest coherent container terminal complexes in Europe. Construction started in February 1968 and the first container berth opened in 1971. Three operators share the quay today.
| Terminal | Who runs it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| EUROGATE Container Terminal Bremerhaven (CTB) | EUROGATE | Common-user terminal with feeder links to Scandinavia and Eastern Europe |
| MSC Gate | Joint venture of EUROGATE and MSC's terminal arm | Mainly handles MSC services |
| North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven (NTB) | 50:50 joint venture of APM Terminals and EUROGATE | 1,800 m quay, 6 berths for ships over 23,000 TEU, 16.5 m water depth |
Your carrier's service decides the terminal. The arrival notice names it. Your trucker or rail operator needs that name before collecting the box.
NTB in numbers
NTB publishes the most detail of the three. It has 18 super-post-Panamax gantry cranes that reach 25 rows of containers on deck, 102 straddle carriers and more than 2,000 reefer plugs. It handles more than 3 million TEU a year and around 45 vessels a week, with links to more than 130 ports. It works 24 hours a day, 360 days a year, and has held Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status since 2008. In February 2026 the owners announced a plan to invest €1 billion in the terminal.
Ship size, depth and the locks
The container berths face the river, so container ships never pass a lock. Port data lists a maximum length of 400 m and a maximum draught of 14.5 m at the river berths. bremenports says the quay takes mega ships of about 400 m length, 60 m beam and up to 20,000 TEU.
The car and fruit terminals sit in the enclosed docks behind locks. That matters for Ro-Ro and conventional ships.
| Lock | Max length | Max beam | Max draught |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Lock (Nordschleuse) | 335 m | 42 m | 12.8 m (Panamax), 12.7 m (post-Panamax) |
| Kaiser Lock (Kaiserschleuse) | 270 m | 55 m | 10.0 m |
Ships up to 270 m can pass the locks only at set tide windows. If you charter a vessel for the docks, ask the owner to check the lock plan before you fix the berth date.
Cars, Ro-Ro and high and heavy cargo at Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven is one of the largest car ports in the world. BLG Logistics runs the AutoTerminal, which handles more than 1.3 million vehicles in a normal year and receives more than 900 car carriers a year. bremenports puts 2025 at 1.25 million units, with storage for 100,000 cars, 50,000 of them under cover, on 240 hectares.
Next to the quay, BLG runs a vehicle technical centre of 295,000 m² with wash lines, paint booths and underbody coating. It processes more than 300,000 vehicles a year. The Ro-Ro terminal also takes rolling high and heavy cargo, such as tractors, buses and wheeled construction machines.
What this means for you: if your cargo can roll on its own wheels, a Ro-Ro booking into Bremerhaven may beat a flat rack. If it cannot roll, look at flat racks on a container ship or a breakbulk ship into Bremen. Our guide to flat rack, open top and out-of-gauge cargo explains the trade-offs.
Reefer and fruit cargo through Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven has its own fruit terminals and cold store. The fruit terminals cover 68,000 m² plus 26,000 m², and the BLG Coldstore holds about 33,000 pallets of chilled and frozen goods. On the container side, NTB alone offers more than 2,000 reefer plugs.
For a reefer box from Dubai, the rules are simple. Set the right temperature on the booking, pre-cool the cargo before stuffing, and send the temperature log with the documents. Food also faces EU border checks at the port, so your consignee should line up the health certificates before the ship arrives.
Breakbulk and project cargo: Bremerhaven or Bremen?
Bremerhaven itself is a container, car and reefer port. The group's breakbulk and heavy-lift work sits in Bremen city at Neustädter Hafen, which the Bremen investment agency has called Europe's largest breakbulk and heavy-lift terminal.
Use this rule. Out-of-gauge cargo that fits on a flat rack or open top can go on a container service to Bremerhaven. Cargo that is too heavy or too wide for that, such as transformers, columns or large steel structures, usually travels on a breakbulk or heavy-lift ship to Bremen. We plan both routings from the UAE through our break bulk shipping service: lifting points, lashing, survey and the port papers at the UAE end.
Dangerous goods into the Port of Bremerhaven
Dangerous goods reach Bremerhaven under the IMDG Code at sea. Once they enter the port area, the Bremen port ordinance (Bremische Hafenordnung) also applies.
- Under section 44(3), a freight forwarder or anyone else who brings dangerous goods into the port area must give the notification set out in section 41 on time, correctly and completely.
- The ship side (master, owner, time charterer or agent) carries the same duty for goods on board, under section 44(1).
- Quantity limits and safety rules for handling and storage in the port come from Annex 4 of the ordinance, applied through section 42.
- Any incident must be reported without delay.
In practice the carrier files the vessel notification, but the data comes from your DG declaration. Wrong UN numbers or missing details stop the box at the terminal gate. Carriers and terminals also accept DG class by class, so we confirm acceptance for your UN number before you commit to a sailing. Our dangerous goods shipping team checks the declaration, Safety Data Sheet, packaging, labels and placards, and our guide to IMDG segregation in containers covers mixed loads.
Customs at the Port of Bremerhaven: what is specific to this port
Germany's general import rules are the same at every port. Our Hamburg guide covers them in full. Here is the short version, plus what is different at Bremerhaven.
The short customs summary
| Rule | What it means for a Dubai shipment |
|---|---|
| Entry summary declaration (ENS) | For containers, the carrier files it at least 24 hours before loading at Jebel Ali. For bulk and breakbulk, at least 4 hours before arrival at the first EU port. |
| EORI number | The EU consignee's EORI number must be on the import declaration. A UAE exporter does not need one unless it acts as declarant. |
| Customs duty | Set by the EU tariff (TARIC) for your HS code |
| Import VAT | 19% standard, 7% for some goods such as food and books, charged on the customs value plus duty |
Zollamt Bremerhaven
Cargo landed at Bremerhaven is cleared through Zollamt Bremerhaven, office code DE002452, at Franziusstraße 1. It reports to Hauptzollamt Bremen. The office handles release for free circulation, transit, entry and exit formalities and excise goods. Use this office code on transit documents if the goods move inland under customs control.
The Bremerhaven free zone
Bremerhaven is one of the last places in Germany with a free port. Parts of the ports of Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven are free zones under Article 243 of the Union Customs Code and are fenced off from the rest of the customs territory. Hamburg's free port closed on 1 January 2013, so this is a real difference between the two ports.
Goods in the free zone have not yet entered the EU customs territory. Duty and import VAT fall due only when goods are released into free circulation. This can help if your buyer is not yet known, or if goods may be sent on to a non-EU country. The VAT rules for supplies inside and into the zone are technical, so the consignee should check them with a German customs adviser first.
Getting cargo out of Bremerhaven: rail, truck and feeder
Rail moves more than half of Bremerhaven's hinterland container traffic, according to a study for bremenports. The strongest rail corridors run to Bavaria, Saxony and the Czech Republic. For Poland, Scandinavia and the Baltic states, Bremerhaven works mainly as a transshipment hub, with feeder ships carrying the boxes on.
NTB has its own rail terminal with six tracks of about 760 m loading length and four container loading bridges. Trucks reach the terminals by motorway, and inland waterway links run up the Weser.
| Final destination | Usual onward mode from Bremerhaven |
|---|---|
| Bremen, Lower Saxony, northern Germany | Truck |
| Bavaria, Saxony, Czech Republic | Rail |
| Scandinavia, Poland, Baltic states | Feeder ship |
Book the onward leg early. If the consignee arranges rail, they need the container number and release before the slot.
Shipping from Dubai to Bremerhaven: FCL, LCL and transit times
Most Dubai cargo to Bremerhaven travels as FCL from Jebel Ali or Khor Fakkan. Published schedule data shows transshipment routings rather than one direct service.
| Route (schedule data) | Published transit | Frequency | Transshipment | Carriers listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jebel Ali to Bremerhaven | About 36 days | Every 2-4 weeks | 2 transfers | CMA CGM |
| Khor Fakkan to Bremerhaven | About 49 days | Every 1-2 weeks | 1 transfer | MSC, Maersk and others |
These are published schedule figures, not a promise. Real transit depends on the service, the transshipment hub and port congestion on the day.
[AMIR-FACT: our real door or port transit time from Jebel Ali to Bremerhaven and the carriers we normally book on this lane]
For LCL, groupage services between Bremerhaven and Jebel Ali do exist. One European consolidator started a weekly service in July 2023 with a 27-day vessel transit, but that runs from Bremerhaven to Jebel Ali. For the Dubai-to-Germany direction, ask for the current consolidation port and cut-off before you plan. Our guide to FCL vs LCL shipping shows where the break-even usually sits.
Urgent parts can fly. Schedule data shows Dubai to Bremen Airport with one connection and a flight time of about 14 hours, on passenger aircraft only. See our air cargo service for that option.
How to ship to the Port of Bremerhaven from Dubai: step by step
- Send us the cargo details: HS code, weight, dimensions, packing, DG status and the consignee's town.
- We check which routings reach Bremerhaven (or Bremen for breakbulk) and which suit your inland destination.
- Agree the Incoterm with your buyer, so everyone knows who pays freight, duty and German VAT.
- We book the space, confirm DG or reefer acceptance and send the booking confirmation.
- Your exporter prepares the commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin. For DG, add the DG declaration and Safety Data Sheet.
- We arrange trucking to Jebel Ali Port and the UAE export declaration.
- The carrier files the ENS at least 24 hours before loading, using the data you gave.
- We issue the bill of lading and send the documents to the consignee or their German customs agent.
- The consignee's agent clears the goods at Zollamt Bremerhaven or moves them into the free zone or onward under transit.
- The consignee books the truck, rail or feeder leg and returns the empty container on time.
How to ship from the Port of Bremerhaven to Dubai
We also handle the other direction: shipping from Bremerhaven to Dubai, with arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah port. We book the space with the carrier and run the UAE side. The German export papers stay with the shipper or its German agent.
The German export side
- Export declaration. Germany is in the EU, so the declaration is filed electronically in the Automated Export System (AES), at the customs office where the exporter is established. In Germany this means ATLAS-Ausfuhr, which German customs says is mandatory for all modes, filed with certified ATLAS software or through the customs internet filing service.
- EORI. The exporter, or the representative that lodges the declaration, needs an EORI number. The EU calls it mandatory for all types of customs operations.
- Exit. The customs office of exit supervises the departure of the goods and tells the office of export that they have left the EU.
- Pickup. The shipper or its trucker, or a rail operator from inland Germany, delivers the box to the carrier's Bremerhaven terminal before the cut-off.
The UAE import side
For cargo landing at Jebel Ali, the import declaration goes to Dubai Customs with the commercial invoice, the packing list, the bill of lading, a certificate of origin and any permit needed for restricted goods. Customs duty is 5% of the CIF value for most goods, with 50% on alcohol and 100% on cigarettes. Import VAT is 5%, and a VAT-registered importer can account for it on its VAT return.
- Send us the shipper's details in Bremerhaven, the cargo, the HS code, the Incoterm and the UAE delivery address.
- We book space with a carrier from Bremerhaven and send the booking and cut-offs to the shipper.
- The shipper or its trucker picks up the empty, stuffs it and delivers the box to the terminal before the cut-off.
- The shipper or its German customs agent files the export declaration in ATLAS.
- We check the draft bill of lading against the invoice and packing list before it is issued.
- We file the UAE customs declaration before the vessel arrives.
- We arrange payment of the duty and VAT and collect the delivery order from the line.
- We truck the box to your site and return the empty inside the free time.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually use from Bremerhaven to Jebel Ali/Khalifa/Sharjah and our real transit days in this direction]
Bremerhaven or Hamburg: which port fits your cargo?
| Your situation | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your carrier's service only calls one of the two | That port | Transshipment routings decide the port, not the map |
| Rolling vehicles or wheeled machines | Bremerhaven | Large car and Ro-Ro terminal with a vehicle technical centre |
| Goods with no final buyer yet, or goods for re-export outside the EU | Bremerhaven | Free zone still available |
| Heavy breakbulk or project cargo | Bremen (Neustädter Hafen) or Hamburg | Dedicated breakbulk and heavy-lift berths |
| Consignee in Hamburg or the wider Elbe region | Hamburg | Shorter final truck leg |
| Rail to Bavaria, Saxony or the Czech Republic | Either | Both ports run strong rail links; compare the rail rate |
Checklist before you ship to Bremerhaven
- HS code checked against TARIC, with duty and VAT costed.
- Consignee's EORI number on the file.
- Incoterm agreed in writing.
- Commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin match each other.
- Terminal name (CTB, MSC Gate or NTB) passed to the trucker or rail operator.
- Free zone or direct clearance decided before arrival.
- DG: UN number, class, Safety Data Sheet and DG declaration ready, and acceptance confirmed.
- Reefer: set point, pre-cooling and any health certificates arranged.
- Out-of-gauge: exact dimensions, weight and lifting points sent with the booking.
- Free time at Bremerhaven confirmed with the carrier.
Common mistakes on Bremerhaven shipments
- Assuming Hamburg and Bremerhaven are interchangeable. A box booked to one port costs time and money to move to the other.
- Sending the truck to the wrong terminal. Three operators share one long quay, so check the name on the arrival notice.
- Late or vague cargo data for the ENS. A general description such as "parts" can delay loading at Jebel Ali.
- Booking heavy breakbulk to Bremerhaven when the right berth is in Bremen.
- Forgetting the docks behind the locks have size and tide limits.
- Leaving DG notification details to the last minute. The port ordinance puts a duty on the party bringing the goods in, not just the ship.
- Letting the box sit. Read our guide to demurrage and detention before you agree free time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the port code for Bremerhaven?
The UN/LOCODE for Bremerhaven is DEBRV. You will see it on bookings, bills of lading and tracking pages.
How many TEU does the Port of Bremerhaven handle?
Bremerhaven handled 4.9 million TEU in 2025, up 10.3% on 2024. Its container quay is 4,930 m long with 14 berths for the largest ships.
Which container terminals are at Bremerhaven?
Three operators share the quay: EUROGATE Container Terminal Bremerhaven, MSC Gate and North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven (NTB). Your carrier's service decides which one your container uses.
How deep is the water at Bremerhaven?
Water depth at the container terminal is 14 to 16.5 m. Port data lists a maximum draught of 14.5 m and a maximum ship length of 400 m at the river berths.
Is Bremerhaven still a free port?
Yes. Parts of the port remain an EU free zone under Article 243 of the Union Customs Code. Duty and import VAT are due only when goods are released into free circulation.
How long does shipping from Dubai to Bremerhaven take?
Published schedule data shows about 36 days from Jebel Ali with two transshipments, and about 49 days from Khor Fakkan with one. Real transit depends on the service you book.
What import VAT applies to cargo landed at Bremerhaven?
German import VAT is 19% at the standard rate and 7% for some goods such as food and books. It is charged on the customs value plus duty.
Can I ship dangerous goods to Bremerhaven?
Yes, under the IMDG Code and the Bremen port ordinance. Whoever brings the goods into the port area, including a forwarder, must make the dangerous goods notification on time and correctly.
Does Bremerhaven handle breakbulk and heavy-lift cargo?
Bremerhaven handles cars, Ro-Ro and rolling high and heavy cargo. Conventional breakbulk and heavy lifts in the Bremen port group mostly go to Neustädter Hafen in Bremen city.
Can you ship cargo from Bremerhaven to Dubai?
Yes. The shipper or its German agent files the EU export declaration in ATLAS. We book the space, file the UAE declaration, arrange payment of the 5% duty and 5% VAT, and deliver from Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah.
Get a quote for Port of Bremerhaven shipping
Send us your cargo details and we will come back with a routing and a price to Bremerhaven, or to Bremen if your cargo needs a breakbulk berth. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to talk through DG, reefer or out-of-gauge cargo first. You can also read more about our Dubai freight forwarding team and our sea freight service.
Sources
- bremenports: Bremerhaven (container terminal, auto terminal, fruit terminals, cold store)
- bremenports: Containers (2025 figure, berths, quay, depth, ship size)
- Hansa: Bremerhaven records 10% more container throughput (12 March 2026)
- VerkehrsRundschau: Bremerhaven container throughput 2025 and rail share (7 May 2026)
- APM Terminals: North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven, our terminal
- City of Bremerhaven: EUROGATE Container Terminal (distance to sea, MSC Gate, NTB)
- BLG Logistics: Bremerhaven AutoTerminal and technical centre
- WFB Bremen: Profile of Bremen's eight ports (Neustädter Hafen breakbulk)
- Wikipedia: Ports of Bremen (bremenports ownership)
- ShipNext: Bremerhaven port data (UN/LOCODE, draught, LOA, locks)
- MarineLink: Bremerhaven port profile (distance from Bremen)
- Bremische Hafenordnung, sections 41 to 46 (dangerous goods duties)
- Haufe: Freihafen (German free zones, Article 243 UCC)
- Zollamt Bremerhaven DE002452: office details and functions
- German customs (Zoll): Deadlines for the entry summary declaration
- German customs (Zoll): Using the EORI number
- German customs (Zoll): Import VAT rates and basis
- Fluent Cargo: Dubai to Bremerhaven schedule data
- a. hartrodt: LCL service Bremerhaven to Jebel Ali (2023)
- European Commission: What is exportation (export declaration, AES, exit)
- European Commission: EORI number
- German Customs (Zoll): IT procedure ATLAS-Ausfuhr
- Dubai Customs: Submit customs declaration (documents)
- UAE Government portal: Customs duty (5% of CIF, alcohol 50%, cigarettes 100%)
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT guide (5% rate, import VAT)
Reviewed: 10 November 2026