BLG Logistics Group and Eurogate, have reaffirmed their willingness to engage in collaboration with their Hamburg-based counterpart, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA). The recent news has debunked rumors suggesting that these discussions had come to a halt due to disagreements over company valuations or co-determination matters. According to BLG Logistics Group’s CEO, Frank Dreeke, such speculations are baseless, as the primary reason for the pause in discussions was solely “external economic reasons.” Nonetheless, there is optimism that talks will resume in the foreseeable future.
Before the onset of the global pandemic, Eurogate and HHLA had been actively considering merging their North German container terminals located in Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven. Unfortunately, the pandemic compelled them to discontinue these negotiations temporarily. BLG Logistics Group, predominantly owned by the city of Bremen, has a 50 percent stake in Eurogate, while the remaining 50 percent belongs to the Eckelmann family of Hamburg. On the other hand, HHLA is predominantly owned by the city of Hamburg.
Frank Dreeke highlighted the persisting uncertainties that had prompted the initial pause in talks, which include the ongoing repercussions of the pandemic and the ramifications of the Ukraine conflict. He emphasized the need for more planning certainty before the talks can resume, stating that, “At the moment, we can’t say when that will be.”
Michael Blach, Eurogate’s Co-Managing Director, views the Port of Hamburg’s western expansion as a promising opportunity for advancing automation and achieving carbon-neutral operations in another terminal section. Eurogate continues to express interest in this endeavor and plans to engage in further discussions with the port authority HPA and Hamburg’s economic authority. These deliberations will also encompass issues like the allocation of costs for the necessary expansion of the turnstile at Waltershofer Hafen.
In conclusion, the maritime industry is closely watching these developments, with the potential collaboration between Bremen’s BLG Logistics Group, Eurogate, and Hamburg’s HHLA offering significant opportunities for growth and efficiency improvements. However, the final outcome remains uncertain, pending a resolution of the external economic factors that led to the suspension of talks.
