Construction of a new 330,000m² port area has been begun at the Port of Kalundborg in Denmark.

The New West Port area will be situated on the southern side of Kalundborg Fjord and will comprise 200,000m² of land and 130,000m² of dammed sea area.

The initial phase of the expansion will feature a container terminal and a 500m quay with a water depth of 15m, among other facilities.

It is expected to serve both port users and cruise lines, and will be completed by February 2019.

Construction of the New West Port is expected to be carried out by two separate contractors, with one overseeing the land-based works and the other covering dredging operations at sea.

Both deals have already been signed.

Port of Kalundborg chairman Jakob Jensen said: “Today we placed the first stone in the necessary foundation for the port and the surrounding business cluster to continually actively contribute to business development, employment in the area and the cruise development.

“We need the new space if port-using businesses and the larger cruise ships of the future are going to find Kalundborg attractive.”

The Port of Kalundborg authority noted last year that it is planning to invest a sum of €26m to add new facilities to the port’s current 800,000m² area.