The Port of Hamburg receives highest score from international shipping companies

During the first two months of this year the Unicredit Bank PLC created a current “maritime trend barometer” by interviewing the major local shipping companies in Germany and Europe. The presentation of survey results took place within the “9th Annual German Ship Forum” in Hamburg on 25 February. As in 2007, the Port of Hamburg receives the best overall score from the surveyed shipping companies in the current survey. Hamburg reaches the first rank with an average grade of 1.84 among the eight major North European seaports, closely followed by Rotterdam and Antwerp. According to the international ship owners Hamburg scores particularly with very good cargo volumes, its high quality of dispatch, fast handling and a wide range of logistics services. The detailed analysis of the trend barometer is available for download under the following link:

http://press.hypovereinsbank.de/cms/german/press/showdetail.html?id=9048

Claudia Roller, Chief Executive Officer of Port of Hamburg Marketing, is pleased with the ship owners’ positive evaluation. “The ship owners and our customers reacted positively to the signals concerning the implementation of important port and infrastructure investments given by the authorities and port industry during the last weeks. The efforts for strengthening the port’s competitiveness such as the reduction of harbour dues, an adapted rebate system and the blocking of pilot costs, initiated jointly between authorities and port industry, help the ship owners during a difficult time for the global shipping industry”, explains Roller.

The increasing foreign trade by sea, especially resulting from the important destinations for the Port of Hamburg, China and Russia, raises Hamburg’s cargo volumes again. Thus, the volume of sea borne cargo accelerated to 9.2 million tons with a plus of 3.1 per cent in January 2010 compared to the previous year. Also the new launched feeder and liner services at the beginning of the year are first indications for stabilization and recovery. These are signals which may also delight some 165,000 employees working in the sea port and transport industry that is a very important factor for Hamburg’s economy.