Significant input from Berlin?
New strategy for all German ports represents a milestone. The German port industry wants more government support. Until now, funding for the seaports has virtually come from the ports themselves and the five federal states in which they’re located. In March the German government finally published a national port strategy for the nation’s seaports as well as for its inland shipping facilities. Some crucial detail is missing from the 68-page document, however.
As if it didn’t already have enough on its plate, the German national government also addressed the situation of the country’s ports shortly before Easter – sea and inland gateways alike. It was high time. In addition to the ‘simple’ handling of goods, which some of the ports have been doing for centuries – Hamburg, for example, is celebrating the 835th anniversary of its port from 9 – 12 May this year –, the centres have also taken over more and more hub functions for the nation’s industries.
The list starts with the entry into renewable energy generation (wind power, hydrogen and, for a limited period, LNG) and continues with growing safety tasks, with climate and environmental protection and emission reduction measures in particular taking up ever more space. Recently, the cyber world has joined the list, with modern digitalised logistics also requiring protection against misuse and data theft.
All in all, the port industry guarantees around 5 million jobs in Germany, directly or indirectly. “Without the ports in northern Germany, production in southern Germany might well be paralysed,” as Green MP (Mitglied des Bundestages MdB) Dieter Janecek, the government’s maritime coordinator, pointed out.
Significance for the nation’s industry
Looking at the finances, the ports and their five federal home states have effectively been left to go it alone. Berlin’s most recent subsidies for the ports amounted to a measly EUR 38 million. Too little for Hamburg’s senator for economic affairs, Melanie Leonhard. Together with the other coastal states Hamburg has called for considerably more federal support for ports. EUR 400 million is needed, they say in unison – every year.
“No exports without ports” according to Leonhard, quoting a joint statement released last autumn. “The ports also ship out what is produced in Germany; they create the global trade relations; and it is these that put the goods on the shelves in shops throughout the country.”
More than 60% of Germany’s foreign trade is carried out by sea. The coastal federal states’ statement added that “we alone are in no position to independently bear the considerable investments needed to manage the challenges and tasks now facing the nation in the context of the energy transition, climate change and security.”
The states’ years of effort would now appear set for at least partial success. A 68 page government resolution, published on 20 March, was presented as an overall concept “for a sustainable port and infrastructure policy” – albeit without making any financial commitments.
A comprehensive catalogue of measures describes, in 139 individual points, how the “needs-based” expansion of the 20 maritime ports on the North Sea and the Baltic Sea and the more than 100 inland gateways spread across the country will be carried out.
For example, ports are expected to cooperate more closely and increase security, and to simultaneously protect themselves against cyber attacks. In addition, the federal government attaches great im-portance to including the hinterlands and expanding the roads and railway lines that provide access to the ports.
What about the financing?
As much as the coastal states, the port and maritime trade industries believe the report does them justice – many of the details are the result of their years of preparation – they are nevertheless united on the one central point of their criticism – the lack of any financial commitment.
In a joint statement to “move into action” for the next steps, made by the ministers and senators in charge of ports, they called for greater support and increased compensation for the special financial burdens that seaports bear.
Germany’s national association of seaport enterprises (ZDS) and the national association of public inland ports (BÖB) were harsher. “The cabinet resolution lacks [...] one key prerequisite – the funds to implement it.”