International World Port Conference starts today in Hamburg | NDR.de – News

Managing risks, becoming more resilient, seizing opportunities – this is the motto of the World Port Conference. According to the umbrella organization International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), in which almost 200 ports around the world are organized, 2024 will be a crucial year for many large ports worldwide. Supply chains would always be thrown into disarray in North America due to geopolitical crises. Like other areas of critical infrastructure, ports also need to protect themselves better against cyber attacks, says Jens Meier, head of the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and currently President of the World Port Association.

Climate-neutral shipping is a big topic in Hamburg

Another big topic at the conference is the question of how shipping can become climate neutral and what contribution the ports can and must make to this. For example, Hamburg will also show international guests how shore power systems for cruise ships and freighters work. Especially when it comes to questions about decarbonization, you don’t have to find the wheel four times, says Meier. If we learn from each other, the climate-friendly conversion of ports could progress more quickly overall.

Conference will take place until Thursday

The international world port conference was held in Hamburg in 1985 and 2015. It goes until Thursday. Among others, Hamburg’s Senator for Economic Affairs Melanie Leonhard (SPD), the head of the international shipping organization, Arsenio Dominguez, and the CEO of the world’s largest shipping company MSC, Soren Toft, have also announced their participation. According to information, the IAPH association based in Tokyo includes 185 ports and 160 companies whose business is related to ports.

The sustainability conference also deals with ports

Since Monday it has also been taking place in Hamburg the international sustainability conference takes place. On Monday evening, the organizers published a declaration on the decarbonization of global shipping. Representatives of the ports of Antwerp-Bruges, Barcelona and Hamburg also signed the rather non-binding document. Among other things, they agree to provide infrastructure for sustainable shipping fuels.

More information

According to the port administration, four out of five cruise ships that came to Hamburg in May and June received shore power. (07/02/2024) more

This could have an impact on the prices of goods, but would also be an opportunity for an international comeback for German shipyards. (07/12/2023) more