166 FOREIGN TRADE ZONES
mouth of the Weser River to care for the future growth of the shipping
activities of the city of Bremen.
The population of Bremerhaven during the first year it was founded
was 19 and has steadily increased, until in 1927 the population totaled
approximately 25,000. Bremerhaven serves chiefly as a terminal
port for Bremen, particularly for vessels drawing too much water to
proceed up the Weser River as far as Bremen. Bremerhaven is the
terminus of the trans-Atlantic liners of the United States Lines and
the North German Lloyd Steamship Co.
The object of the founding of Bremerhaven was to assure for the
city of Bremen proper port facilities in its future expansion to maintain
 its position as a leading shipping center of Europe and to establish
 a port nearer to the mouth of the Weser River in order to enable
deep-draft vessels to make Bremen a port of call. ©
Description.—Bremerhaven is situated on the east bank of the
Weser River, near its influx into the North Sea, in latitude 53° 33’
north and longitude 8° 34’ east. The city of Bremen, also located
on the Weser River, is 36 miles distant inland from the port of
Bremerhaven.
The area of the free zone at Bremerhaven is 3 square miles. In
this area there are 22 terminals, with berths for 35 vessels, There
are also 22 municipal warehouses and 95 privately owned sheds for
the storing of merchandise. The free zone includes the harbor basins
with the new and modern piers. which are reached from the Weser
River through locks.
Bremerhaven has rail connections with all points in Germany and
to other parts of Europe. The main line from this port is the Bremen
line. The main highways leading out of Bremerhaven are the Bremen
Road, the Stade Road, which leads further to Hamburg, and the Cuxhaven
 Road. These highways are only in fair condition.
Administration.—The port of Bremerhaven is controlled and
operated by the municipality of Bremen, of which Bremerhaven is 8
part. The free zone area is patrolled and guarded by 100 customs
officials and 30 police officers. The annual cost of the administration
of this port is not available.
Operations permitted and prohibited in free zone.—This information
has been furnished by the American consulate at Bremen, Germany,
in its report on Bremen. The official regulations from the “Bremen
Gesetzblatt’ were quoted, which also apply to this port.
Dispatch in unloading vessels.—The dispatch in unloading vessels
in the free zone area of Bremerhaven, is quick and modern in every
respect. The average speed for discharging cargo from vessels #b
this port is about 3,000 tons a day. All modern loading and unloading
appliances are available and this port compares very favorably with
others in Germany in dispatching cargo.