SPOTLIGHT: German ports

According to port management company Bremenport’s managing director Robert Howe, 2022 was a year of steady growth with further expansion planned for 2023. Although Howe acknowledges that attracting the right workers to replace those retiring in the coming years is a challenge, the management company has concentrated on ensuring the port can attract the right recruits to fill specialised positions.

Howe explains that with the Port Development Concept 2035, the government has adopted an ambitious programme for the future. “The implementation of the formulated goals will massively change the port in the coming decade. Ports must become more economical, sustainable, digital and climate-neutral. This creates a work package that can only be achieved through a joint effort by all actors in the port,” he says.

In view of the energy requirements required by Germany, ports are of central importance if the energy transition is to succeed. Bremen’s ports have the potential to develop as a base port for the import of hydrogen. With a CO2 terminal, Bremen can play a key role in the implementation of the new carbon capture and storage technology. This creates the opportunity to capture climate-damaging emissions, transport them via the port to suitable disposal sites and thus make an important contribution to combating climate change.

In close co-operation with the terminal operators, the overseas port can be developed into a climateneutral district with its own renewable energy supply. Together with the port community, a smart port strategy can be developed and implemented in order to catch up with other ports.

Port infrastructure improvement projects are also important and one example is the construction of the Columbus quay, with the first major section due to be completed shortly.

On the basis of the plans drawn up by Bremenports, the Senator for Science and Ports will submit proposals for the new construction of container quays, which the port authority believes will be vital if the port is to remain competitive.

Also envisaged is further expansion of the railway infrastructure at the terminal, and transport development of the overseas port and traffic planning round the port are also key components.

Further major investment projects are on the agenda, notably the construction of the new north pier in the fishing port and the planning of a new swing bridge to Columbus Island.

“The Senator for Ports has announced an investment offensive. Bremenports is working to ensure that this offensive can be implemented quickly,” says Howe, “because more important than today’s figures are the projects for tomorrow.”

Global impacts

Many ports, including those in Germany have felt the impact of the war in Ukraine, as well as the downturn in the global economy generally. Disruption to global supply chains resulting from the ongoing covid-19 issues have continued to challenge ports, not least the implementation of China’s zero covid policy.

“In recent months, the energy crisis as a result of the Russian attack on Ukraine and the still strong effects of the pandemic have once again made this very clear to us,” says Claudia Schilling, Senator for Science and Ports. “But despite all the challenges, the port and logistics industry, as well as the employees on the ships and in the ports, have ensured supplies for the German and European population in these difficult times. And we, as a state, will continue to live up to our responsibility for Bremen’s ports by making quays and terminals fit for the future.”

The transformation of industrial society towards climate neutrality also poses major challenges for ports. Shipping and the operation of port facilities contribute significantly to CO2 input.

At the same time, ports can make a significant contribution to creating a climate-neutral energy supply. Competition requirements are changing and new business models are emerging. Sustainability is becoming the model for action of the future in several respects.

In an address to mark the new year, Dr Schilling called for a significantly stronger financial commitment from the federal government to German seaports.

At Bremenports’ new year’s reception of in Berlin, the senator said: “Climate neutrality and energy security cannot be achieved without the seaports.” This requires new handling facilities for hydrogen imports and for the shipment of offshore facilities.

According to Schilling:”Our ports should not only be climate-neutral, the energy of the future should also be landed here and fed into the grids to be expanded, so that Germany as an industrial location will still function in 20 years’ time. I think it is of fundamental importance, not only for the ports, but for the German economy as a whole, that this is heard and understood in Berlin.

“A transformation of the German economy towards climate neutrality will only succeed if the ports are upgraded and expanded accordingly.”

This could not be achieved with state budgets. “That is why the federal government must set the course for greater financial participation in port burdens with a new national port strategy.”

At the new year event, Jan Ninnemann of HTC Hanseatic Transport Consultancy commented: “We must ensure that ports remain competitive in the face of the many challenges”. In view of the expansion targets for offshore wind energy, considerable investments in port infrastructure are required. Ports are seeking to become climate neutral by and in addition, great efforts are needed to prepare German ports for the import of hydrogen.

Meanwhile, the spokeswoman for activist group Fridays for Future, Annika Rittmann, reminded those that shipping itself has a considerable need for action. Clean shipping must be implemented much faster than currently planned. She said there was a lack of a strategy for seaports to jointly exert more pressure on international shipping.