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German ports explore closer ties

[ June 24, 2022   //   ]

The first discussion session of the North German seaports discussed closer cooperation at their first session in Berlin on 23 June.

More than 100 attendees followed the talks, which explored future strategies for the sector, which has gained national prominence in Germany in recent years. Bremen and Hamburg are in the process of drawing up new port development plans and Lower Saxony recently presented a paper that outlines the prospects for its ports for the next decade.

German ports prime concerns are their competitiveness in relation to those in Belgium, the Netherlands and France, all of which receive substantial state aid along with the upgrading the infrastructure.

The event also highlighted the future importance of energy security, climate neutrality, digitisation and automation.

The participants agreed that the National Port Strategy would have to provide far more support for the ports to cope with these tasks. At the same time, the ports themselves were called upon to cooperate closely in order to address the forthcoming challenges.

Bremen’s senator for science and ports told the gathering: “The development of a new National Port Strategy is absolutely essential to address the present situation. Ports will be able to ensure supply reliability and energy independence in Germany only if the politicians at national and Federal Land level, as well as the port and transport industry all work in close cooperation.

“Bremen and the other coastal states will continue to shoulder their responsibility in future and invest in the port infrastructure. At the same time, however, we expect the federal government to assume a reasonable share of these tasks.”

Hamburg’s Senator for economic affairs and innovation, Michael Westhagemann, added: “We have to become faster and we have to provide the right framework conditions. That is the only way we can all develop the future of the ports together. This is essential to turn our ports into energy hubs and that is the only way we can succeed in achieving climate neutrality.”

State Secretary at Lower Saxony’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Dr Berend Lindner concluded: “An efficient transport network and well developed infrastructure are vital for the North German ports. If we are to strengthen the competitiveness of our seaports in relation to the western range ports, we have to speed up our infrastructure projects.

“The current example of planning and implementing the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven clearly shows that it is in fact possible to execute mega-projects promptly. Adoption of the German act to accelerate the use of LNG has created the decisive legal framework for this to succeed.”

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