Port of Hamburg denies failure of the fairway adjustment

The location of the Port of Hamburg and its diverse hinterland connections will continue to play an important role in global supply chains. A temporary, general restriction of the water depths in the Elbe will not change that.

(Hamburg) “To speak of a failure of the fairway adjustment is not correct and only leads to unsubstantiated discussions. Although the water depth is temporarily restricted, regulated shipping traffic is still present, and shipping companies know how to handle such situations,” emphasizes Axel Mattern, Board Member of Port of Hamburg Marketing.

It was already known at the time of the fairway’s release that there would be morphological changes in the Elbe. This is a normal dynamic process for waterways of this kind, which is accompanied by appropriate measures. However, extreme climate and weather conditions have led to an increased accumulation of sediment that could not be removed with the available personnel and equipment.

“The safety of shipping traffic takes precedence over economic interests. However, even with the temporarily reduced depths, the Port of Hamburg is still in a better position than before the fairway adjustment. The ongoing improvements will also be utilized by shipping companies, bringing more cargo to Hamburg than before,” says Mattern. It is now more important than ever to find quick solutions, adds the HHM board member.

Hamburg Port Authority assists with dredging vessel

The fact that the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) will assist with a dredging and surveying vessel on the federal route shows how flexibly the Port of Hamburg can respond to such situations. Mattern: “Now the federal government is obliged to finally react in order to restore the approved drafts. For this, it urgently needs to provide additional capacities.”

Photo: © HHM / Hasenpusch Productions