© Niklas Reinert
SEA LIGHTS
The Gateway to the Baltic Sea
Her gaze wanders through the colorful streets, bustling with stalls, street performers, and crowds of people. During Kiel Week, the city is alive with vibrant activity. Something is moving at the end of the street. A house seems to be gliding through the city. That can’t be real! Her friend from Kiel reassures her: one of the large ferries to Scandinavia is just departing from its berth in the inner fjord.
Because the quays are located right in the heart of Kiel’s city center, the large ferries and cruise ships merge seamlessly with the city’s skyline. When these moving blocks of houses detach themselves from the city, she tells her, a familiar feeling always stirs in her — a strange mix of deep-rooted belonging and a longing for faraway places.
For Kiel, maritime activity is not just part of its identity — it's also a key economic factor. The benefits are undeniable: shipping enables the broad international exchange of goods and cultures, shortens routes, drives tourism in the region, and creates jobs both on land and at sea. The ships departing daily for Scandinavia and the Baltic states are a familiar sight to many Kiel residents. The ability to hop over to Gothenburg, Oslo, Klaipėda, or even set off on a cruise around the Baltic makes life in a port city especially vibrant — and quite literally broadens one’s horizons.
“However, the ecological impact of maritime activity is often overlooked in this context.”
Niklas Reinert
However, the ecological impact of maritime activity is often overlooked in this context. Shipping is a major contributor to CO₂ emissions at sea and along coastlines. The discharge of pollutants into the Baltic Sea threatens its fragile marine ecosystem, which, due to the sea’s enclosed nature, is particularly vulnerable to imbalance. Noise pollution from ships can also disrupt the behavior of marine animals.
Blue Port Kiel
Blue Port Kiel is a sustainability concept developed by the Port of Kiel, aiming to make the port climate-neutral by 2030
Her friend explains that Kiel, along with many other cities and countries bordering the Baltic, is already addressing these environmental challenges. One solution is the increased use of shore power facilities, which allow ships to switch to environmentally friendly electricity while docked in port. The installation of so-called scrubbers can further filter pollutants from exhaust gases, helping to improve air quality. The use of innovative fuels based on hydrogen or biofuels could also significantly reduce CO₂ emissions.
Ultimately, mindful travel choices are key: both passengers and shipping companies must be aware of their responsibility and make environmentally conscious decisions. Just as in other parts of life. In this way, the desire to explore distant places can be harmonized with the protection of our environment and our home — ensuring that the Baltic Sea is preserved for generations to come.
Niklas Reinert
... was born in Kiel and works in the press office of the state capital. His connection to Scandinavia and the countries bordering the Baltic Sea – shaped by his studies in Scandinavian studies and numerous journeys northward – influences the way he sees the Kiel Fjord and his hometown. The closeness to the sea and the exchange with the North are, for him, defining aspects of life in Kiel.
© Niklas Reinert
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