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Issue 5 2019 - FBJNA


///EUROPEAN PORTS


Hapag Lloyd consolidates its transatlantic services and feeder traffic at the Hamburg container terminal Altenwerder (CTA). (© Hapag-Lloyd Photo.)


and the roads in the port area,” reports Bengt van Beuningen, port spokesman. “Rail traffic is very reliable and cargo trains operate punctually. Barges can use an IT information system to book loading/unloading time windows at terminals. This avoids waiting time and helps barge liner services to operate in fixed schedules.”


Inland Waterway and Rail Connections


Port of Hamburg is ready for the future


By Karen E. Thuermer


Reports state that more than 15% of ships in service and 41.3% of ships on order are for those capable of hauling 14,000 TEUs and up. Since ships of that size can only be deployed on Asia- Europe routes, Europe’s mega ports are examining how to handle all of the traffic plus meet mandates to reduce their carbon footprint. The Port of Hamburg, dubbed


at Germany’s largest universal port, offers one example. Last year, the port handled 135.1 million tons of seaborne cargoes. Axel Mattern, Joint CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing, reports that Hamburg sees 100 liner services calling on the port from some 1,000 seaports worldwide. And in January 2019, four new liner services in the transatlantic trades commenced services that connect Hamburg with the US East Coast and Mexico. “With the transfer of these, liner services


‘THE Alliance’


additional throughput volume of the order of up to 500,000 TEU is arriving on the Elbe,” he says. Increase container traffic is


not only arriving via ocean, but rail – largely in part to Hamburg’s geographical advantage in Asia- Europe connectivity. The port serves not only an important port


along the China-Europe


Maritime Silk Road but also an important


Europe freight trains. China again


terminal for China- remained the


Port of Hamburg’s largest trading partner in 2018. One in three of all containers handled in the port are for, or from, China. Complementing seaborne services, more than 235 connections by rail are now offered from Hamburg along the New Silk Road. “Having handled around 4.8


million TEUs for or from China, compared to other locations in Europe, Hamburg is the main hub for China freight by a wide margin,” says Mattern. But the port plans to further and


strengthen expand


year, the port’s marketing arm projects between 3-4% growth in container traffic, and stable growth for bulk cargo handling. To help alleviate congestion


its


capabilities to also benefit other worldwide port customers. Located in Germany’s largest integral


industrial area, port


officials intend to use technology to expand its logistics offerings, while being carefully mindful of climate and environment concerns and policies. This


and avoid waiting times for trucks and barges in the port, Hamburg’s container terminals have


implemented a truck


booking system that offers truckers a time window to bring or pick up containers at one of its four big container terminals. “This system works and


helps to avoid traffic jam in peak times at the container gates


Eurogate turns over 1.65 million TEU in Hamburg. (© HHM / Michael Lindner Photo.)


Via the Elbe River and connecting canals, the Port of Hamburg is well integrated in the German and European inland waterway network. Around 10,000 barges berth annually in the port and transport 11 million tons of cargo. “This makes Hamburg,


Germany’s second largest inland port,” van Beuningen says. “10.1% of all hinterland cargo was routed in 2018 by barge; 42.8% by truck and 47.1% by rail. There are container transport services by barge between Hamburg and hinterland destinations; for example, to Hanover, Minden, Brunswick, Dresden and Magdeburg.” In 2018, transport by rail to


and from the Port of Hamburg accounted for totals of 46.8 million tons – up 2.7% – and 2.44 million TEU – up 4.7%. More than 60,000 cargo trains with around 1.6 million freight cars were handled during 2018 on the Port Railway network alone. “This topped the record


total set in 2016 and extended Hamburg’s position as Europe’s leading rail port,” van Beuningen


says. “Hamburg offers more than 2,100 container train connections per week.” Trains connect Hamburg


with all major business areas in Germany and the European neighbour states. In addition, there are more than 200 container train connections between Hamburg and 27 cities in China. This makes Hamburg Germany’s China Hub. “A dense network of


around 2,100 container train connections, excellent autobahn infrastructure, a host of possibilities for transport by truck and inland waterway craſt, as well as an airport with an air freight centre, justify Hamburg’s claims as a leading logistics hub,” van Beuningen says.


Future Solutions


To accommodate largest of vessels operating now and in the future, work is underway on to deepen and widen the port’s fairway on the Lower and Outer Elbe. “We shall be implementing the


project as swiſtly as possible and hope that no delays will arise,” says Mattern. Already major shipping


alliances are announcing that once work is completed, they will make Hamburg their first discharge and last loading port in Northern Europe for their container services. “Adjustment of the fairway


will not just simplify calls in Hamburg for shipowners but will also permit handling of larger volumes,” he states. “Extra draſt and an improved situation for passing on the Elbe will also facilitate better use of transport capacity on their ships.” Once the Elbe has been


deepened, large containerships and bulk carriers will be able to bring around 18,000 tons more cargo to Hamburg and be able to sail with increased quantities. The port and its handling


terminals are already clearing mega-carriers with slot capacities of over 21,000 TEU and are preparing to clear arrivals and departures by even larger vessels. “The order book for the new


generation of the Mega Carrier is full,” Mattern states. “We are raring to go with carrying out all necessary preparations so that even the 23,000-TEU vessels can make it safely into the Port of Hamburg.”


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