Hanstholm Harbour 1967 - 2007

Creation date: 05 November 2007

40th Birthday and Great Optimism

If all of Europe’s fishing were to be handled in one place, Hanstholm Harbour would be an obvious choice. Harbour Manager Hans Kjær fails to hide a smile, and he certainly has no reason to as the harbour just completed the best financial year in its history, 2006.

A favourable location at the narrowest point between Denmark and Norway, close to the fishing areas of the North Sea, combined with a 24 hour service has made Hanstholm Harbour desirable for both fishermen and ferry lines. Not only locals but also fishermen from the rest of Denmark and Europe land their catch in Hanstholm.

The optimal treatment of the fish is tied to a concept called The Unbroken Refrigeration Chain, which secures a low temperature through the processing phase. The revenues are closely linked to the ups and downs of the harbour’s users, not least the ups and downs of the fishing trade. The financial report for 2007 will break no record because of the stop in industrial fishing, but even this is not enough to shatter the Hanstholm fishermen’s beliefs in the future. The trading of fishing quotas has reduced the number of fishermen, but those who remain have better chances of profitability. Local fishermen has bought and laid up smaller and older trawlers for shipbreaking. The quotas of these boats are now used on bigger and more modern boats.

The fishermen believe in the future and the Hans Kjær joins their optimism. He expects Hanstholm Harbour to increase its role in Danish fishing over the next couple of years. Hans Kjær became Harbour Manager in 2001 at a time when the harbour went from being state owned to becoming a autonomous unit. Hanstholm Harbour has earned its sea legs. Even the biggest optimists in 1967 have been surprised to see the harbour take the leading role it has today among Danish harbours.

On the Foaming Sea

Hanstholm Harbour opened on 8 September 1967. Many years of fighting to build a harbour at Helshage had preceded that date. Some saw it as both impossible and unprofitable to build a harbour connected directly to the foaming sea. But engineer Jørgen Fibiger had a different view of the harbour plans. Apart from being master of his trade, he was also skilled at persuading the different Ministers of Transportation. He suggested the construction of two harbours – one at Hirtshals and one at Hanstholm (Helshage) – and in March 1917 he could see his proposal be carried. Fibiger lived to see the completion of the Hirtshals harbour before his death in 1936. War broke out and construction came to a halt and left the west pier at the Hanstholm site in a terrible state. It was not until 1960 that things started moving again.

Hanstholm is not like other towns in its area and many people search in vain for the main street. If one street were to be called Main Street, it would probably be Kai Lindbergs Gade. Kai Lindberg was Minister of Public Works from 1955-66. He was convinced that building Hanstholm Harbour was the right thing to do – a port for both fishing and traffic. In 1960 his proposal passed and thereby more than earned the street naming.

Another man worthy of having a street named after him was the then parish council chairman and later mayor Christian Hansen. For him, the struggle for a harbour in Hanstholm was a life-long key issue. At the opening he expressed his hope that soon the harbour would be too small – a prophecy that would show itself to be true.

Hanstholm and the Ferries

Though the number of direct employees is not great, the harbour’s importance as Thy’s biggest indirect employer is a fact. The new municipality of Thisted is aware of the harbour’s importance, but the financial division between the two remains: Hanstholm Harbour must earn the money needed for the future expansion. ‘We actually feel good about that’, says Hans Kjær. A revenue of DKK 14.2 million in 2006 proves that the harbour can earn its keep.

Passenger and car traffic experienced a significant lift with the start of Master Ferries in 2006. Together with Fjord Line and Smyril Line, the new ferry has made Hanstholm into one of Denmark’s leading ferry harbours. The town is the gateway to the Faroe Islands and the western part of Norway and has the fastest connection to South Norway.

Heavy Trucks

The positive effect the ferries have on the harbour and the town is priceless, but the effect is also measurable far outside Hanstholm: tourists in the summer cottages, cyclists and motorists on the road, shopping tourists in the stores and trucks with fish and other goods traversing the area.

The ferry companies are in competition with companies operating in other harbours. Competition is healthy, but it must also be fair. Thus, it is vital that the new heavy trucks are allowed to and from Hanstholm. Two of the nearest competitors, Frederikshavn and Hirtshals, both have motorways, but the infrastructure leading to Hanstholm is far from optimal.

‘An upgrade to heavy truck standards can be made quite cheaply’, says Hans Kjær. ‘Covi Consult has made a study of the two most used roads to Hanstholm, i.e. Route 29 over the Aggersund Bridge and Route 26 over the island Mors. The consultants have reached the conclusion that less than DKK 2 million will buy the improvements needed to facilitate heavy trucks, including the construction of a number of roundabouts. This amount is a really small investment and the study will of course be made available for the legislative authorities’, says Hans Kjær. ‘It is unfair that companies in Hanstholm have 25 % greater transport costs than other companies. This will be the case if Hanstholm is not allowed to use heavy trucks.’

Generational Change

The start-up of Hanstholm Harbour attracted many people eying opportunities in fishing and in starting harbour related businesses. Some stayed only briefly. Others now belong to the so-called group of pioneers. People who came with an idea, started their business and let it grow along with the harbour. Together they have created many jobs. Some of them are still heading their businesses, while other companies have successfully made, or are in the process of making, the generational change. The pioneer spirit is, however, still there. They are not knocked over by the first gale or storm of the season. They are used to struggling but without a lot of show and people are used to sticking together, also in times of adversity. As one puts it: ‘Hanstholm is like being home. You always have people by your side and in front of you. You needn’t worry about you back.’

As the harbour grew so did the new society on the point - schools, kindergartens, a town hall, shopping centre and business community. In some ways separate from the harbour, but without the harbour no Hanstholm. A society that had to create their own traditions while new neighbours continued to settle. In this settler time some people suggested knocking down all the old ‘rubbish’ buildings. Luckily it never came to pass and the characteristic old white houses are still there.

Hanstholm Harbour 40 Years From Now

Today Hanstholm Harbour boasts a number of qualities: Denmark’s biggest consumer harbour, Denmark’s biggest fishing auction, 24 hour service, Hanstholm Seafood Center with quality sorting and The Unbroken Refrigeration Chain, three service centres, a nine meter water depth, fishmeal factory and ferry connections to Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and the Shetland Islands.

’We could rest on our laurels, but we are not going to. The harbour has a master plan detailing annual investments. In 2006 alone we invested DKK 77.7 million – 32.7 of which came from the EU. The plan describes, among other things, expansions on both the eastern and western part of the harbour.

In its first 40 years Hanstholm Harbour has undoubtedly been a success. But how does the harbour look 40 years from now, in the year 2047? One thing is for sure: Hans Kjær will not be heading the harbour, so he is here able to make an honest guess - aided by the master plan.

’I see a harbour with a great national and international impact. It will be the leading fishing harbour with even more related businesses than today. We will be able to speak about the present harbour as the ‘old harbour’, and wonder how it fitted all our activities at the turn of the millennium. The harbour will be expanded towards the east and the west, but also towards the sea. A new outer pier and new basins further towards the sea will enable even bigger ships in the harbour and new possibilities too. Hanstholm Harbour is easily accessible from all sides. The number of freighters will increase and I imagine Hanstholm as a hub for cargo traffic to large parts of Jutland.’

‘Master Ferries will soon offer year round service and 40 years from now Hanstholm’s position as a leading ferry town will be further secured. A positive development in fishing, ferry traffic and freight will buttress growth in the number of service businesses and make the positive spiral continue’, closes the optimistic Harbour Manager.