The 2040 Hamburg Port Development Plan

Further digitalisation will allow optimised logistics management, comprehensive data-sharing and closer links between stakeholders. This will help to lay the foundations for new growth. A strategic commercial development and cluster policy will allow the port to participate in this economic dynamism and become a cradle of innovation in its own right.

A key role will be played in the digital transformation process by the ongoing expansion of communications infrastructure, with a particular focus on uninterrupted next-generation mobile coverage and a high-performance fibre-optic network. Building information modelling (BIM) and sensor technology will help support planning and predictive maintenance of the port’s physical infrastructure. BIM can be used to compile relevant, up-to-the-minute data into digital asset twins over the port infrastructure’s entire life cycle. These individual twins can then be integrated into an overarching Port Digital Twin.

Thanks to institutions such as the Hamburg Port Authority’s (HPA) Nautical Center and the Hamburg Vessel Coordination Center (HVCC), Hamburg is one of the world’s leading ports when it comes to digitalisation. To enable efficient collaboration at points where different port processes intersect, stakeholders will in future be connected by an ecosystem of new and existing platforms. At the core of this ecosystem will be a network of networks that supports further digital collaboration between privately organised logistics and public infrastructure/traffic management.

Infrastructure needs to be adapted to changing customer requirements and rising freight volumes. Digital traffic management will improve the performance of existing systems. In order to reduce carbon emissions from freight transport, the port railway and rail connections to the hinterland will be further strengthened and expanded.

The adjustment of the river Elbe fairway, which was completed in 2022, is crucial to maintaining the Port of Hamburg’s functionality as a multipurpose port and ensuring it can still be accessed by large ships. Another important measure is the enlargement of the access channel to the container terminals at Parkhafen and Waltershofer Hafen (“Western expansion” project). Berths, waiting areas and quay walls will also be extended and maintained in the coming years.

Effective, adaptable sediment management is likewise vital to ensure reliable seaward access and protect biodiversity in the tidal section of the Elbe. That will require suitable disposal sites for dredged material with adequate capacity to be maintained or established over the long term at the mouth of the Elbe estuary and in the German Bight. These measures must give high priority to environmental factors and water/marine conservation.

One particular focus will be the expansion of the port railway in order to improve the port’s capacity and facilitate its transition to climate-friendly transport. To promote the transport of freight by rail, connections to the port rail network will be prioritised in development projects and incentives will be put in place to shift intra-port and hinterland transport from road to rail. The HPA has developed an extensive expansion programme to strengthen the port railway network and make it more attractive. The programme comprises a number of measures that will be rolled out in phases.

The land use strategy is key to ensuring land is available for forward-looking companies to establish or expand their operations. The aim is to retain successful companies in the port, to actively support structural change and to increase value creation. Hamburg’s multipurpose port will be strengthened and further developed by attracting new companies and industries. When allocating land, increased emphasis will be placed on the guiding principles of value creation, sustainability and competitiveness.

The central port area is a key development priority. The area will be transformed to enable attractive new developments, especially in the Steinwerder Süd area. The Waltershof area, which is focused on container handling, will likewise be developed in the coming years to increase its capacity. The “Western expansion” project, for example, offers potential to expand the existing terminal area at the Predöhlkai and install two new berths suitable for large modern container ships. The Port of Hamburg will also seek to position itself as a centre for sustainable energy: companies from the sustainable energy sector (storage, processing, suppliers, service providers, etc.) will be prioritised for developments on former fuel depots. The port expansion area Moorburg also offers further potential capacity.

Committed, qualified workers are crucial to the port’s long-term functioning. But their training needs are changing due to the transformation of the world of work, including specific trends in maritime logistics and port-related industries. Building on existing networks and on local and global knowledge transfer, education/training programmes will be developed and updated to meet demand, in collaboration with social partners. Another goal is to invest in making the port a more attractive place to work, so that it can compete for top talent.

Developing and implementing effective measures to support the transformation of work in the port will require continuous dialogue and collaboration by all relevant stakeholders and social partners. One overarching measure to help achieve this will be to establish a port working group in the Hamburg network for education and employment (ABBH/FKN).

One thing that sets the Port of Hamburg apart is its central location in the heart of the city. Being a good neighbour requires the port to consider the interests of all relevant groups and stakeholders, without neglecting its own needs. It is important to be mindful of the impact of port traffic and emissions on local residents’ quality of life. At the same time, port businesses need reliable infrastructure and conditions for their operations and logistics.