Kiel Port Award Goes to Mikko Juelich from Stena Line

On Thursday, the maritime industry gathered for the 39th “Sprottenback” at “Längengrad” on the Kiel Schwedenkai. With a view of the fjord and the Stena Line ferry terminal, over 150 guests came together to celebrate the Kiel port. As part of the traditional event, the Kiel Port Award was also presented for the first time again.

Dr. Dirk Claus, Managing Director of the PORT OF KIEL, made it clear in his welcoming speech that the Kiel port is back: “We have never handled as much cargo as we did last year. This year, we are also seeing further slight increases. The Kiel port is doing well,” he said, emphasizing, “this requires good partners by our side and forward-looking investment decisions for our infrastructure. We have both. In the past 13 years (2010-2023), the cargo handling of the Kiel port has grown by 34 percent. This makes us the German port with the highest growth rate.” He emphasized the central role of ports for the economy as a whole: “Ports are important for our country: 60 percent of German foreign trade passes through German seaports.”

Unlike in previous years, the Kiel Port Award was also presented again this year. Jörn Grage, Managing Director of the forestry company SCA Logistics and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Kiel Seaport, honored Mikko Juelich from Stena Line with the port award during the event. In his role as Trade Director and Managing Director of Stena Line Germany, he has worked on key issues of combined cargo transport and sustainability over the past three years and has further deepened the good cooperation between Stena Line and the PORT OF KIEL.

Jörn Grage said in his laudation: “The awardee has been an integral part of the Kiel port activities for several years. He is an important source of inspiration who believes in the strength of collaborative design. He is open to new ideas that see the port and our ships as an important part of functioning multimodal European transport chains. […] Through his actions, he has significantly contributed to better, more sustainable, and more integrated integration of the Kiel port into the multimodal European logistics chains in this crucial area.”

Recognition for Efforts to Expand the Intermodal Sector

Juelich’s efforts, particularly in expanding the intermodal sector in Kiel, were honored. Stena Line has been one of the customers with the highest intermodal split in the Kiel port for many years. Since the beginning of the year, the shipping company has also been operating a new Stena Line intermodal train between Kiel and Verona, which the company organizes independently. This sends a clear signal for “freight on the rails,” which is characterized by a dilapidated German rail infrastructure and unreliable train services. Furthermore, it is an active contribution to greater sustainability in transport. Combined transport allows for savings of CO₂ emissions of up to 90 percent compared to pure road transport of freight. Stena Line is also pursuing clear sustainability efforts in other areas in Kiel: The shipping company has not only relied on the methanol propulsion of the Stena Germanica for years but also on the use of green shore power during every layover in Kiel, as well as CO₂ compensation for freight customers. This aligns Stena Line with the corporate strategy of the PORT OF KIEL, which aims to be climate-neutral by 2030.

Years of Good Cooperation with Partners

Award winner Mikko Juelich said: “I thank you for the port award, which I accept especially on behalf of my colleagues: Only through our joint hard work do we advance Stena Line, can we provide our customers with the best possible service, and grow together. The years of good cooperation with our partners from the seaport make it easier for us to implement our plans.”

Photo: © Port of Kiel