Port as an Innovation Driver for the Hamburg Economy

The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce presents the “Future Plan Port 2040”. In this context, the Hamburg port is seen as an innovation driver and a competitive advantage for a large part of the Hamburg economy. The Chamber accuses the port of failing to consistently develop the port over the past ten years.

(Hamburg) The Hamburg port has traditionally been a goods transshipment point and a crucial location factor for a large part of the Hamburg economy. “In recent years, Hamburg has lost ground in port competition. Despite significant changes in the global trade system, the rapid rise of new technologies, tougher price competition, and infrastructural challenges, Hamburg has failed to consistently develop its port over the past ten years,” states Prof. Norbert Aust, President of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, on the occasion of the presentation of the Chamber paper. The Future Plan is part of the location strategy “Hamburg 2040: How do we want to live in the future – and what will we live from?” of the Chamber. “Instead of focusing solely on transshipment figures, value creation for the Hamburg economy should become the key metric for the port. To do justice to its role for the Hamburg location again, the Hamburg port must become an innovation driver and strongly focus on sustainability,” Aust continues.

Port of Hamburg to Become a Producer of Hydrogen

The Hamburg port benefits from its location in a economically strong region, its strengths in renewable energies, and its role as a logistics hub in Northern Europe. It is therefore predestined to become a pioneer in the production, use, and distribution of hydrogen. The expansion of infrastructure for alternative energy sources is crucial for this. Together with its northern German neighbors, Hamburg can become an internationally leading location for renewable energies and hydrogen. Autonomous systems also offer the opportunity to use existing infrastructure more efficiently. Hamburg can leverage the port’s experience in terminal automation and develop into a model city for autonomous systems – making the port an international showcase.

For its further development and the settlement of innovative companies, the port needs a supply-oriented land policy. “The increasing competition for land repeatedly raises the question of how to achieve the highest possible land efficiency in the port,” says President Aust. “Suitable plots of land must be developed for the settlement of new industries and value creation concepts.” The goal must be to develop an energy and climate port with upstream and downstream value creation stages.

Incorporating into the Port Development Plan (HEP)

Willem van der Schalk, Vice President, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce: “With the Future Plan Port, we want to contribute to the new Port Development Plan (HEP) that the city is currently working on. The basis of a new HEP must also be a comprehensive potential analysis prepared promptly by an internationally based institute. This should also include benchmarking with other ports and a critical comparison of their success factors with Hamburg’s port policy. To secure cargo flows for Hamburg, ‘dedicated terminals’ should also be developed. Such shipping company participations in port terminals have led many other ports onto significantly higher growth paths.”

Dr. Malte Heyne, Managing Director, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce: “The Hamburg port has a high so-called ‘local content’ rate thanks to its strong demand from the metropolitan region. This strength must be consistently expanded. We need a coordinated settlement campaign for port-related industries with our northern German partners. A critical success factor for Hamburg and all German ports is the acceleration of infrastructure planning and approval processes. In dealing with the association’s right to sue, Germany could look to Denmark as a model.”

Photo: © Hafen Hamburg HHM/Michael Lindner

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