New Managing Director for Hansaport

Degreed engineer Ben Thurnwald is to become the new Managing Director of Hansaport Hafenbetriebsgesellschaft mbH on 1 July 2016. He will succeed Erhard Meller, who is to retire after 25 years.
 
Michael Kieckbusch, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Hansaport Hafenbetriebsgesellschaft mbH and Chief Human Resources Officer of Salzgitter AG, said: “We are delighted that in Ben Thurnwald, Hansaport is gaining an experienced manager with comprehensive industry experience. The company is thereby excellently placed to continue its successful course.” Kieckbusch also thanked the departing Managing Director, Erhard Meller: “In his 25 successful years as Managing Director, Mr Meller and his team further developed Hansaport, turning it into a state-of-the-art port facility.”
 
Dr. Roland Lappin, member of the Supervisory Board of Hansaport Hafenbetriebsgesellschaft mbH and member of the Executive Board of minority shareholder Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), added: “The Hansaport is an integral part of Hamburg’s all-purpose port. Its high degree of automation means that it sets standards for efficient processes. I would like to thank Erhard Meller for his successful work over the last 25 years, and wish his successor, Ben Thurnwald, great success.”
 
Ben Thurnwald (47) has worked for Lübecker Hafen-Gesellschaft (LHG) since 1995, most recently as Operational Managing Director of LHG Service-Gesellschaft mbH. He took responsibility for the divisions operation, distribution, engeneering and human ressources. In addition to this role, Thurnwald was also Managing Director of Scandic Service Gesellschaft mbH and Nordic Rail Service GmbH.
 
Hansaport is Germany’s largest bulk-cargo terminal and provides the Salzgitter Group’s steel-producing companies, as well as other external customers, with ore and coal. More than ten percent of total throughput at the Port of Hamburg is handled at the 65 hectare facility, equivalent to some 15 million tonnes per year. The Hansaport operates almost entirely automatically. Its four gantry grab cranes are the only ones in the world that can work in fully automatic operation. Up to 110,000 tonnes can be discharged in 24 hours at the quays totalling more than 1,000 metres in length. The majority shareholder in Hansaport is Salzgitter AG, with 51 percent, while HHLA has a stake of 49 percent.