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A pontoon for river cruise ships is being built on the banks of the Main in Hanau. The city hopes that this will provide a further boost in tourism.
Hanau – Hanau is planning to build a pier for river cruise ships. A modern pontoon is to be built on the banks of the Main in Kesselstadt, which will receive the first ships from 2027. “In this way we are strengthening Hanau’s trade, gastronomy and hotel industry,” says Mayor Claus Kaminsky (SPD).
“We are continually developing the banks of the Main as a tourist and economic location. I am very pleased that Scylla AG is building a state-of-the-art pier for river cruise ships on the bank in Kesselstadt,” says Mayor Claus Kaminsky.
Hanau is planning a modern pier for river cruise ships on the Main
“With new day guests, we expect additional added value for our gastronomy and retail and are of course also looking forward to well-traveled guests at Philippsruhe Palace.” River cruises have been booming in Germany for years. Passenger numbers and sales are rising sharply. In 2024, the industry recorded growth of around 20 percent in just one year.
Experts predict increasing demand for tourism offerings in the coming years, which will place greater demands on the infrastructure on land. The capacity of existing piers has been exhausted and new locations are being sought.
The Swiss shipping company Scylla AG has found a suitable location in Kesselstadt at kilometer 54.06 on the Main, near the amphitheater and Philippsruhe Castle. “We work closely with municipalities to develop modern piers that meet the highest ecological standards,” explains Roman Cangar, Nautical Commercial Director of Scylla AG.
“The city of Hanau has expressly welcomed our initiative. We are in the final planning phase for submitting all approval documents.” The pontoon will be able to accommodate two river cruise ships with a length of up to 135 meters at the same time. Completion is scheduled for the end of 2026 and the pier should be fully operational from the 2027 season.
New tourist opportunities for Hanau
The facility will be equipped with shore power connections to reduce emissions during berthing times. Drinking water connections should enable the ships to be supplied in a resource-saving manner. The pontoon is not only available to the operator, but will also be open to other river cruise companies.
Scylla AG, with over 45 river cruise ships of its own, is one of the leading providers in Europe. Their ships operate on important waterways such as the Rhine, Danube and Main. In addition to its fleet, the company already operates docks in cities such as Düsseldorf, Traben-Trarbach, Straubing and Leverinho (Portugal). The new pontoon aims to integrate Hanau into the European river cruise network as an attractive destination.
“We are opening another chapter in Hanau's development. We are inviting guests from all over the world directly to our city. In this way, we are strengthening trade, gastronomy and the hotel industry. At the same time, new tourism opportunities are opening up for the Brothers Grimm city, which will also be easily accessible by water in the future. I am looking forward to numerous new visitors who will experience Hanau as a lively and hospitable place on the river,” says Mayor Claus Kaminsky.
