Authors: Mathias Schulz and Axel Mattern

POHM: Throughput figures are showing positive development. How satisfied are you with the overall development of the port – in particular regarding current projects and future viability?

Jens Meier: As a highly efficient interface to international maritime trade routes and a European hub, the Port of Hamburg secures a wide range of jobs and contributes significant added value – regionally, nationally, and across Europe.

I take a very positive view of the current development of the port. Throughput figures show that the market is stabilising and that Hamburg continues to be in demand as an efficient all-purpose port in Europe.

With partners such as Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, Grimaldi, COSCO and now CMA CGM, we have strong stakeholders that are actively involved in the Port of Hamburg. Following Rheinmetall’s acquisition of Blohm+Voss, the company has announced plans to expand naval shipbuilding here in Hamburg.

Key projects such as the transformation of the Waltershofer Hafen, which will increase the port’s efficiency, the West Bypass Alte Süderelbe (WASE), and the ongoing expansion of shore power infrastructure, which is already well advanced, will ensure long-term competitiveness. The construction of the new Köhlbrand Bridge and federal support for the A26 motorway project also help create redundancies. This is essential, because resilience requires redundancy.

„With increasing digitalisation,

the complexity of our systems grows –

along with the potential attack surface."

The Port of Hamburg is regarded as being highly digitalised. How does this digital transformation change the requirements for cybersecurity?

With increasing digitalisation, the complexity of our systems grows – along with the potential attack surface. Automated terminals, connected supply chains, IoT sensors, digital traffic management – all these demand much higher security standards. Cybersecurity is now an integral part of port operations. We therefore invest in modern security architectures, real-time monitoring, and robust emergency plans to operate the port safely in the digital space as well.

Cyberattacks no longer stop at national borders. What role do international partnerships, particularly in Europe, play in protecting critical port infrastructure?

Ports are globally connected – and so are cyber threats. That is why we need European and international partnerships. We work closely with other major ports. Shared standards and the exchange of information on specific incidents increase resilience across the entire port network. No port authority can handle these challenges alone.

How do you balance openness to innovation (e.g., automation, AI systems) with the necessary protection against external attacks?

For me, innovation and security are not contradictory – they actually reinforce each other. New technologies such as AI, autonomous driving within the port, or digital traffic management require us to maintain a high level of security. At the same time, we utilise modern technologies to detect risks earlier. The key is balanced risk management and an awareness for potential threats. We began this process years ago – in good time – and continue to maintain digital trust at HPA.

You have just been re-elected as president of IAPH. What priorities will you set in the coming years?

I want to further strengthen IAPH as a global platform for sustainable, resilient, and digitally connected ports. Key topics for the coming years will be digitalisation, sustainability, and resilience. For me, everything is guided by the principle ‘Don’t forget the people’. New technology is useless if we do not enable our employees to use it effectively. In other words, we will also place a greater focus on training and development.

Competition between ports is strong. How can ports develop joint strategies in an IAPH context despite this competition?

Ports compete, but they face the same challenges: decarbonisation, digitalisation, resilience, and skills shortages. Within the IAPH, we create a space where ports can learn from each other, develop best practices, and shape international frameworks. Competition remains, but shared standards and reliable processes ultimately benefit all participants.

What role can Hamburg play as a European hub port in the global dialogue among ports?

As a major European hub port, Hamburg naturally acts as a gateway between Northern and Central Europe and global markets. We contribute our experience in digitalisation, sustainable infrastructure planning, and port management to international dialogues. Hamburg can take on a moderating, inspiring leadership role – especially in future-oriented areas such as green energy, smartPort applications, and cyber resilience.

„In the coming years, digital networking,

AI, and digital twins will shape the

interaction between port and hinterland

by synchronising processes and making

disruptions visible early on"

In the European context, competitiveness is determined not only based on the port itself but, in particular, on its hinterland connections. Where do Hamburg and Germany currently stand, and what investments are needed in the near future?

Hamburg has excellent hinterland connections, especially by rail. However, Germany faces the challenge of resolving bottlenecks in the rail network more quickly. In the coming years, investment in the digitalisation of signalling and control technology, increasing capacity on key routes, and expanding trimodal hubs will be crucial.

How is the increasing share of rail freight changing Hamburg’s role in the European logistics network?

The share of rail freight at the Port of Hamburg is already the highest in Europe – and it is set to rise further. Hamburg benefits from this, because sustainable, reliable hinterland routes are becoming increasingly important. The port’s role is shifting from being purely a throughput hub to an intermodal node that stabilises the supply chains of European industry.

Looking ahead five to ten years, which technological developments will shape the integration of port and hinterland logistics?

In the coming years, digital networking, AI, and digital twins will shape the interaction between port and hinterland by synchronising processes and making disruptions visible early on. At the same time, automated and electrified transport on road and rail will make hinterland logistics more efficient and determine capacity. In addition, alternative energy sources will create new infrastructure nodes, turning ports into central energy and logistics hubs for the region

What excites you personally about your work at a time when European logistics is more challenging but also more exciting than ever?

We are on the cusp of challenging times. A port that wants to succeed in this new reality needs not only more capacity, but also more resilience. Today, together with our colleagues and partners, we make decisions whose impact we will see only in ten or twenty years, thus ensuring sustainability for future generations. Being able to contribute to this together with our teams is my personal motivation and is what drives me each day. Ports with a vision win markets. Ports without vision will lose them.