Hafen Mannheim

The Port of Mannheim is one of the most important inland ports in Europe, stretching around the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers on the city's western edge. Inland shipping here is documented as far back as the 13th century, when the first water tolls were levied. After Mannheim was granted its town charter in the 17th century, it developed into an important trading center. In the 19th century came the construction of a free port, the first railway connection, and the creation of several harbor basins. By the end of the 19th century, the city was effectively the end point for large vessels on the Rhine and served as a transshipment hub for much of southwestern Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

To preserve its importance, Mannheim expanded the industrial port in the early 20th century so that incoming goods could be processed on the spot. This led to the emergence of one of Germany's largest milling centers. After World War II, during which the port was heavily damaged, the infrastructure was adapted to larger ships and changing flows of goods. The old inland harbor was filled in, an oil port was opened, and in 1968 the first container terminal at a German inland port went into operation. Today the site covers a large area of water and land, home to numerous companies.

For visitors and anyone with an interest in industry, the port is a place of constant activity. A wide range of goods is handled here, including food and animal feed, mineral fuels, and chemical products. The rail connection runs through Germany's second-largest marshalling yard, while road traffic is handled via surrounding federal highways and autobahns. A cooperation agreement with the Port of Ludwigshafen across the river rounds out the logistical picture of this central transportation hub.