Wilhelmshaven: discretion is obligatory
It is an important commitment. The carrier Hapag-LLoyd is investing in Northern Germany and recently took ownership of a 30% stake in Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven (CTW) and a 50% stake in Rail Terminal Wilhelmshaven (RTW). The terminal operator Eurogate will continue to hold the remaining shares.
Hapag-Lloyd received regulatory approval from the EU Commission for its participation in the Jade Weser Port Wilhelmshaven. The investment was first announced in September 2021. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
However, US authorities recently ordered Hapag-Lloyd to pay a California drayage provider more than USD 820,000 in civil damages. The ruling is based on a Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) investigation on unwarranted detention charges on containers in 2021.
The detention charges were imposed by Hapag-Lloyd's North America agent on Golden State Logistics (GSL) which, at the time, tried to return empties to terminals at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. (sh)