Page 31 - Port Of Hamburg Magazine 01.2018

vessel would not pay off, as the operating costs are at a similar level to those for rail. So terminal handling needs to become routine. We are currently still ne- gotiating on that. All other conditions are now met. We have already held binding discussions with Third parties and de ned our cooperation with BEHALA in Berlin as our handling terminal. We are con dent that the rst inland waterway craft will commence service this summer.
PoHM: The big vessels naturally take precedence over the ‘tiddlers’ at container terminals in the Port of Hamburg. Is that a snag for you?
Plass: The shift in ship sizes of recent years has changed the situation at Hamburg container terminals. Whereas quayside traf c is hectic at speci c times, certain times of day and weekdays are less crowded. During such time windows, handling an inland waterway craft can certainly be of interest. There’s no question that we need to adapt ourselves to local circumstances. With the Hamburg Vessel Coordination Center (HVCC), inland waterway shipowners undoubtedly have a competent partner in support, who can ensure dependable rotation planning for inland waterway craft at the terminals and notify reasonable time windows for handling.
PoHM: How will you proceed in the coming weeks and months?
Plass: When we have cleared all hurdles, we shall start initially with one inland waterway vessel and one round trip per week. We’d certainly have car- go for two or three vessels. For a start, though, we must aim to gain ex-
perience once again, and check whether our new service pays. At the moment we are assuming that the inland waterway ser- vice will link terminals in Berlin and Hamburg without any stopo- vers. Owing to the three seasons on the Elbe – high, low wa- ter and ice drift – we plan only on a quarter- ly basis, giving us the chance of adapting our schedule at short notice. ■
Axel Plaß
Joint CEO of forwarder Konrad Zippel
50 YEARS OF CONTAINERS IN HAMBURG ■
© Konrad Zippel
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