Author: Theresa Linder

Since commencing activities in 2009, the Hamburg Vessel Coordination Center (HVCC) has established itself as a central, cross-company hub for the nautical and operational fine-tuning of terminals and shipping customers in the Port of Hamburg. A joint venture between the Hamburg Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and EUROGATE Container Terminal Hamburg, the HVCC coordinates vessel arrivals, port rotations, and departures around the clock. It serves as a central interface for shipping companies, terminals, and nautical service providers, ensuring seamless coordination among all operational stakeholders, particularly in cooperation with the HPA.

The organisation consists of two specialised divisions: Nautical Terminal Coordination (NTC) and the Feeder Logistics Centre (FLC). The NTC plans the arrival and departure of large container ships, bulk carriers, ConRo, and cruise ships several days in advance. Due to the unique geographical location of the Port of Hamburg – with a waterway over 100 kilometres long leading to the open sea – numerous factors must be considered, including tidal windows, regulations for ships meeting on the Lower Elbe, clearance under the Köhlbrand Bridge, wind conditions, as well as changing berth schedules at terminals and shipping line timetables.

"The digital

data-exchange is

continuously being

fine-tuned.“

Gerald Hirt
CEO HVCC

The FLC, in contrast, optimises the rotation of feeder and inland vessels between the Hamburg terminals and handles stowage planning for feeder operators in the Port of Hamburg.

The HVCC team benefits from proprietary software that compares tens of thousands of ship positions across Northern Europe with up-to-date planning data on an hourly basis. ‘Arrivals, departures, and port rotations are monitored in real time. We help our customers respond flexibly when necessary and coordinate vessel movements across different terminals in Hamburg,’ explains HVCC Managing Director Gerald Hirt.

Last year, the team, currently twenty strong, worked round the clock to coordinate around 4,000 terminal calls from feeder vessels and pre-arrival planning for approximately 2,500 large ships, which face particular restrictions on the Lower Elbe due to their size. In doing so,
the HVCC optimises the use of port infrastructure and contributes to stable traffic flows.

Furthermore, the HVCC reduces vessels’ fuel consumption and emissions by providing precise time windows for just-in-time arrivals. This not only lowers costs but also reduces energy consumption in the port and on approach to the German Bight, improving the port environmental footprint. ‘As an international hub for the flow of goods, the port has a special responsibility to implement sustainable solutions – both to meet climate targets and to strengthen competitiveness,’ emphasises Axel Mattern, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing.

Today, HVCC data is used not only by shipping companies and terminals but also by shippers, rail operators, and nautical service providers. ‘This digital data exchange is continuously being fine-tuned to prevent system disruptions, reduce manual processes, and increase
planning reliability,’ stresses Gerald Hirt. The HVCC dashboard has around 750 users, with additional service providers—such as bunker companies, waste disposal firms, and ship outfitters—recently integrated. Ongoing refinements continue to improve collaboration,
creating an increasingly connected digital ecosystem that contributes to the stability, efficiency, and sustainability of the maritime transport chain.