l to r: Michael Groschek (North Rhine-Westphalia Minister of Transport), Dr. Dirk Reder (Geschichtsbüro Reder, Roesling & Prüfer), Erich Staake (Chief Executive Officer, Duisburger Hafen AG), Andreas Postert (illustrator children´s book)
duisport presents a chronicle and children’s book to celebrate the port’s anniversary / New bike route through the Port of Duisburg / Landmark “Leinpfad Ruhrort” is unveiled with North Rhine-Westphalia Minister of Transport Michael Groschek.
Duisburg, 2 May 2016 – The anniversary year of the Port of Duisburg is experiencing its first highlight today. Two books were presented on the occasion of the port’s birthday in the presence of North Rhine-Westphalia Minister of Transport Michael Groschek: the anniversary book “300 Years Port of Duisburg – Globally connected, regionally anchored”, and the children’s book “Duisport – A journey through time”. In addition, Minister Groschek and Erich Staake, Chief Executive Officer of Duisburger Hafen AG (duisport), also introduced a new bike route through the port and unveiled the first of eleven historic landmarks. Now citizens and interested individuals will have an opportunity to experience the port and its history in many different ways.
North Rhine-Westphalia Minister of Transport Michael Groschek (right) and Erich Staake, Chief Executive Officer, Duisburger Hafen AG (left), at the unveiling of the historic landmark „Leinpfad Ruhort“ with the winners of the bicycle raffle (students of Aletta-Haniel-Gesamtschule)
“The Port of Duisburg is one of the shining stars of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Throughout its 300-year history, the port has often been a pioneer in trend-setting developments. During the past 20 years in particular, the port has developed into a growth and innovation driver in the logistics industry, and today secures more than 45, 000 workplaces, ” says North Rhine-Westphalia Minister of Transport Michael Groschek on the occasion of the presentation of the anniversary book.
The research and work that goes into developing the 300-year history of the port is very demanding and time-consuming. For this reason, duisport engaged the Cologne-based history firm Reder, Roeseling & Prüfer to prepare the port’s history in a new and reader-appropriate fashion more than a year ago. This extensive work, which consists of ten chapters, describes the port’s impressive growth from its first years as an unfortified anchoring location at the mouth of the Rhine and Ruhr to its status as central Europe’s leading logistics hub. The text is accompanied by numerous pictures and portraits of some of the main figures, who played a particularly prominent role in the port’s development. This lends a face to the port’s history, as readers can obtain a visual picture based on the impressive images. Past and present of Germany’s central industrial region become accessible and come to life.
North Rhine-Westphalia Minister of Transport Michael Groschek (right) and Erich Staake, Chief Executive Officer, Duisburger Hafen AG (second from right), at the opening of the new bike route
“Chapter for chapter, the authors describe how the port made its way through three incredibly eventful centuries with determination and an ability to renew itself and manage the great challenges of the age time and time again. The reports also reflect some of the ground-breaking inventions that changed our world, and also the names of important companies and entrepreneurs who wrote the history of German industry, ” emphasizes Erich Staake.
Both Federal President Joachim Gauck as well as North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hannelore Kraft and Duisburg’s Lord Mayor Sören Link have included their greetings for the anniversary book. The chronicle is available in stores as of tomorrow.
Children’s book “Duisport – A journey through time”
A flying barge named “Düsi” and a time machine that travels three hundred years into the past – these characters will bring the history of the port, which began in 1716, and its successful development into the world’s largest inland port, to pre-school children and children in elementary schools.
The children’s book, which is filled with colorful drawings and illustrated text, tells of a young pair of siblings that together with “Port Master Harry” takes an unusual, lovingly illustrated and enthralling journey through time and the port. The children discover how the port, from its humble beginnings at the spot where the Ruhr joins the Rhine river, grows over the centuries into the Ruhr region’s transfer site for coal and steel, before developing into a globally connected logistics hub in more recent times.
“Our children experience and participate in a globalized world in many ways. But many do not realize just how important a role Duisburg has played in this development, ” says port CEO Erich Staake. “We want to take them behind the scenes, highlight the context and explain the modern aspects of the logistics industry from container transport to car parts exports in a way that can be understood by children.”
In addition, the book project may also have some benefits for duisport: “In view of the growing shortage of skilled labor, we cannot start early enough to tell others of the different and interesting workplaces in and around the port.”
On 36 large pages, the journey leads through the Port of Duisburg and its three hundred year history, while picking up on important events of the past and present. The first edition of the book was printed with 20, 000 copies. Interested schools in the region are given the books for teaching purposes for free – as long as supplies last. Smaller editions in English and a Chinese dialect are also planned – as a small gift for duisport partners around the world.
“This book is a wonderful initiative to create awareness of the port and the logistics industry among children, and familiarizes them with an exciting and mostly unknown work environment in a manner that is both playful and exciting. A good investment in tomorrow’s talent!” says Minister Groschek.
Presentation of bike route through the port
duisport has developed a new bike route right through the Port of Duisburg based on the existing regional bike paths. Eleven historic landmarks were installed along the 47-kilometer route, which inform riders of the key milestones in the port’s history. The first of these landmarks, the “Leinpfad Ruhrort” was officially unveiled today by Minister Groschek and Erich Staake at the “Schifferbörse” in Duisburg-Ruhrort.
Afterwards, they and 100 students from Duisburg began the four kilometer journey “Erlebnisradweg Ruhrort” to symbolically open the bike route. The participating students came from the Aletta-Haniel-Gesamtschule in Ruhrort, and the Franz-Haniel-Gymnasium in Homberg. Both schools have maintained a partnership with duisport for many years.
The new bike route maps can be obtained from duisport and also from the tourism office in Duisburg (Tourist Information Duisburg).
“The road, rail and waterways connections in the Port of Duisburg are already excellent. The 47 km bike route adds another transport mode that is designed especially for citizens and those interested in the port. Now everyone has an opportunity to obtain information about the development of the port and its key accomplishments, ” states Minister Groschek.
“Everyone is invited to discover and experience the exciting atmosphere at the world’s largest inland port on this bike route. The landmarks also invite riders to rest and learn something new – such as in Ruhrort, where the first dock was built 300 years ago, or at logport I in Duisburg-Rheinhausen, where the most recent success story of the Port of Duisburg had its beginnings, ” concludes Staake.
