Hamburg as digital pioneer

(Posted on 24/10/18)

Underwater drones, autonomous trucks and paperless Customs clearance – the future is already buzzing in the Port of Hamburg. The ‘Digital Networking’ conference run by Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM) showed just how far the port has progressed. “In respect of digitalization, the Port of Hamburg is a worldwide beacon offering many USPs,” emphasized Axel Mattern, HHM’s Joint CEO.

Dr. Sebastian Saxe, CDO of Hamburg Port Authority, presented an impressive picture of the digital future in his keynote speech. The port’s rail, road and inland waterway traffic is already digitally guided. Experience from the port is of importance for the entire city and applicable to its complex traffic system. Artificial intelligence in guiding traffic will already be a major topic next year, said Dr Saxe. The ‘Green4Transport’ project should be networking vehicles with traffic lights and guiding truck columns through intersections. The introduction of 5G in the port as a testbed will facilitate implementation of further visionary projects. This infrastructure offers a superb way of enabling all players in the port to head into the future together.

Drones will also be an indispensable feature of the port. Hamburg Port Authority can envisage using underwater drones to monitor quay walls and Elbe sediment in future. Airborne drones could be used, for example, to inspect the load-bearing cables of the Köhlbrand Bridge. HHLA is already successfully deploying drones – some of these autonomous – at its terminals. Jan Bovermann, Head of Corporate Development at HHLA, stressed that further automation is only attainable through networked thinking. “The digital culture of a company cannot be measured by the number of block chain projects it launches. Vision, culture and cooperation are the three crucial factors. That also means involving staff, customers, service providers and suppliers to just the same extent,” said Bovermann.

Ulrich Wrage, CEO of the IT provider Dakosy that specializes in logistics, focussed his statements on digital culture in the Port of Hamburg. The port has now achieved a digitalization rate of 95 percent. Around 2000 companies are connected. The primary reason for attainment of this result is trust. To network procedures and speed up processes, competing operators, service providers and customers are giving insights into their data. “Dakosy’s secret is involvement of all players,” said Wrage. That also involves slipping into the role of facilitator. Among other changes, that has led to Customs paperwork increasingly becoming a thing of the past, and clearance already being digitally triggered as the container approaches Hamburg.

The Hamburg Vessel Coordination Center (HVCC) is one example of just how well networking between the variety of companies and institutions is functioning. Gerald Hirt, HVCC’s CEO, proudly recalls the last two years. Shipping companies, the Nautical Centre, competing terminals and – just recently – inland waterway shipping are profiting from this interface. Data from all those concerned, pilots, the Kiel Canal, Elbe Lateral Canal and from Rotterdam are constantly making vessel handling even smoother.

“Other ports are not waiting,” emphasized Saxe. In recent years the tempo of technological developments has constantly speeded up and is still accelerating. “Shippers are dictating the pace,” added Wrage. Global trading groups like Amazon or Alibaba “examine very precisely what a port a port can do, or cannot.”

Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg aims to provide further momentum for ‘Port 4.0’ or ‘Hafen 4.0’. This is the first port of call for the digital business transformation of the logistics industry on land, water and in the air. CEO Johannes Berg hopes that the next significant innovation in logistics – comparable with the success of Wirecard in the financial world – will originate in Hamburg.

Ingo Egloff, Joint CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing, sees the key to success as being cooperation between all those involved in the Port of Hamburg. “Successes from cooperation between companies and institutions are abundantly apparent and can form the basis for a joint international success story,” said Egloff.

Latest News

Ghent boosts bulk handling with a Gen 6 Konecranes Gottwald MHC

Euroports Group is set to strengthen its bulk handling capacity at North Sea Port (Ghent) with the addition... Read more

Europe’s first fully electric tug delivered to Antwerp-Bruges

Damen Shipyards Group has delivered six RSD Tugs 2513 to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium. The... Read more

Hamburg bulks show mixed trends

Throughput of bulk cargo at the Port of Hamburg has experienced a slight recovery over the course of... Read more

LAR in Angola reinforces transport capacity with new wagons

The Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) has taken an important step this week towards strengthening its transport... Read more

ABP’s Port of Hull welcomes two new build Eco Traders

The Port of Hull recently welcomed two new eco-friendly vessels built for charterer Ahlmark Lines AB... Read more

Port of Detroit awarded $24m by EPA for climate-friendly upgrades

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in a historic move toward green infrastructure, has... Read more

Viterra signs deal with ABP in the Humber

Associated British Ports (ABP) and Viterra, one of the world leading grain marketers, have announce... Read more

New Managing Director at TBA Doncaster

From 1st November, TBA’s Doncaster division has a change of leadership.Responsible for the bulk... Read more

Port of Vancouver USA grant to deploy and expand clean energy infrastructure

The Port of Vancouver USA has announced it has been awarded a $22.5 million grant by the U.S. Environmental... Read more

ABP acquires land to fuel future growth

Associated British Ports (ABP) has acquired 21 acres of land on the western side of the Port of Immingham... Read more