Waterways
The port of Hamburg is situated in a distance of 110 kilometres from the mouth of the Elbe river, off the North Sea. In 2007, the port was the second-largest in Europe and ninth-largest worldwide. 9.8 million containers were handled in Hamburg in 2007, a ten percent increase on 2006. In 2008, inland water transport had a quantity of freight of 12,024 t (11,834 long tons; 13,254 short tons) (1000 t), and maritime shipping a quantity of 140,236 t (138,021 long tons; 154,584 short tons) (1000 t). Both increased compared to 2007.
The importance and responsibility of the port and its trade for the city is shown through the fact, that Hamburg is described itself as a Welthafenstadt (world port city) in the preamble of the constitution of Hamburg. Dieter Läpple described the important connection between the port and the trade city to enter it into the preamble of the constitution as follows: The preamble of the constitution of Hamburg points out the close relationship between port and city with regard to their development: „As an international port the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg has a special task, allocated by its history and location, toperform for the German people. In the spirit of peace it wants to be an intermediary between all continents and peoples of the world."
Important waterways were also – not in Hamburg proper – the canals Elbe Lateral Canal and Kiel Canal.
Read more about this topic: Transport In Hamburg