Image: Die Linke
Today, approximately 2,500 protesters took to the streets of Hamburg in an organized demonstration against the proposed 49.9% sale of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHLA), the city’s leading port operator, to Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), a Swiss-based maritime giant.
The protest, orchestrated by a local union, began at HHLA’s headquarters in HafenCity and culminated at the town hall. As the demonstrators marched, flares lit up the evening sky, and a significant police presence was on standby, ensuring order. The passionate crowd chanted, “Our port – not your casino!” expressing their fervent opposition to MSC’s acquisition.
MSC has initiated a tender offer, aiming to transform HHLA into a joint venture with the city-state of Hamburg. As part of this venture, MSC has committed to elevating the north German port city into a “central hub” within its global network of container services. The proposed plans include establishing a new office, doubling the local workforce, adding an extra 1 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) in MSC traffic, and relocating the company’s German cruise headquarters to Hamburg.
However, MSC’s entry into Hamburg’s maritime landscape has met fierce resistance from influential figures within the city, including Klaus-Michael Kühne. Kühne, an 86-year-old magnate, not only controls Kuehne + Nagel but also holds a substantial 30% stake in Hapag-Lloyd, another of Hamburg’s top shipping lines. In response to MSC’s bid, Hapag-Lloyd has issued a cautionary statement, suggesting it may reduce its transport volumes to Central Europe via Hamburg to around 70-80% of current levels.
The protests on Tuesday coincided with the discovery of a 453 kg British-designed bomb from the Second World War during dredging operations in the port. Thankfully, the Hamburg fire department promptly defused the bomb on-site, averting potential disaster.
As the Hamburg community remains deeply divided over MSC’s proposed acquisition of HHLA, tensions continue to simmer, and the future of the city’s port operations remains uncertain.
Source: Splash
