DJ DGAP-Media: Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG: JOINT EXPANSION OF HINTERLAND TERMINALS AND DEPOTS PLANNED
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG / Enterprise 01.02.2010 Dissemination of a Media Release, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.=--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Through a joint venture operated by their intermodal subsidiaries in
Ger-many, the port logistics groups EUROGATE and HHLA intend to set up
full-service hinterland terminals and depots for container traffic from and
to German seaports.
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and EUROGATE Group aim to jointly
build up a terminal network for container handling in Germany. The Federal
Cartel Office (FCO) has now given the green light for this project. HHLA
Intermodal GmbH and EUROGATE Intermodal GmbH, the two groups'' hinterland
companies, each have a 50 percent stake in the venture. In the start-up
phase the joint venture will be developing schemes for terminals,
considering potential locations, constructing facilities with integrated
depots, and where appropriate promoting it further. The aim is to achieve a
sustained improvement in the operational parameters for maritime transport
and logistics chains in the hinterland of German seaports.
Dr. Sebastian Jürgens, HHLA Executive Board member for the Intermodal and
Logistics segments: ''In providing better and more intelligent links with
the hinterland, with our project we shall be boosting the competitiveness
of German seaports. That is wholly in tune with the German government''s
national port strategy.''
Emanuel Schiffer, Chairman of EUROGATE Management: ''We want to extend the
high standards of quality of German seaports to the hinterland terminals as
well. HHLA Intermodal and EUROGATE Intermodal are here making available
their expertise to improve maritime logistics chains, with the entire
logistics sector profiting from that.''
Full-service hinterland terminals with integrated depots
Whereas existing hinterland terminals are primarily designed to meet the
requirements of con-tinental services, the full-service hinterland
terminals will be designed especially for the present and future needs of
the growing volume of container services in global transport chains. With
their integrated depots, the facilities will also offer storage capacities
in immediate proximity to target markets.
''We shall be building state-of-the-art terminals in the hinterland,
allowing large container volumes to be concentrated even better,'' said HHLA
Executive Board member Dr. Jürgens. ''Only by doing that shall we boost
opportunities for further switching from road to rail. The potential is
immense.''
''The seaport is edging closer to its final customers,'' said Emanuel
Schiffer, Chairman of EUROGATE Group Management. ''Transport chains will be
simpler to plan and more reliable. Planability and reliability are factors
that will make a favourable impact on transport costs for the customers of
our hinterland terminals.''
With spaces for container storage and rail sidings and offering such
services as container repair, the planned terminals match the requirements
of the operators of combined services. For instance, they will improve the
prerequisites for forming more efficient shuttle systems by rail between
the seaport and the hinterland terminal. Integrated information chains
facilitate improved coordination of production processes in the seaports
and in the hinterland. That represents a further step in the
''industrialization of the transport chain'', with improved utilization of
existing infrastructure.
''As a seaport we want to be present in Germany''s major centres of
production and consumption. We are accordingly planning facilities wherever
especially heavy transport volumes can be anticipated,'' said HHLA board
member Dr. Jürgens.
Transfer from road to rail
Higher quality and performance capacity at hinterland terminals will not
only facilitate successful handling of growth in volumes, but will also
offer a strong incentive for switching traffic from road to rail. An
intermodal chain offering the best carrier for each stage of the journey
also has substantial ecological advantages.
''As seaports, we are also practising environmental protection in the
hinterland. In saving energy, emissions and space with our new terminals in
the hinterland, we are playing a substantial part in making goods traffic
environmentally compatible,'' said Dr. Jürgens.
Strengthening the position of German seaports
Until 2008, European container ports and their hinterland systems were
operating at the limit of their capacity, which resulted in partial
restrictions on the growth and quality of the logistics and transport
chains of shippers. Pressure has eased on account of the economic crisis.
Nevertheless, medium- and long-term forecasts assume further growth in
container handling. In the hinterland of German seaports, moreover, stiffer
competition between European ports is apparent. Better seaport-hinterland
links can therefore only strengthen the position of the German ports.
''We must strengthen our competitive position vis-à-vis other ports in
Europe,'' said Emanuel Schiffer. ''Otherwise we run the risk that the
hinterland in Germany will be served more effi-ciently from other seaports
than from those in North Germany.''
If sustainable transport systems are to be implemented despite trucking''s
strongly competitive position, the expansion of inland handling and storage
capacities that satisfy maritime require-ments will be essential. The
German government''s national port strategy also calls for increased use of
transport chains of the kind that combi traffic facilitates, also singling
out hitherto neglected competitive opportunities.
''Despite a weak market, last year on hinterland services we consolidated
our position well. As a port, we are now going over to the offensive. And
in doing so we are laying the foundation stone for future growth,'' said Dr.
Jürgens of HHLA''s Executive Board
The significance of maritime transport services for the economy
Large areas of the German economy are dependent on maritime transport
chains. With the planned hinterland terminals the seaports will occupy an
additional vital hub, boosting their reliability for customers. That is an
important prerequisite for efficient organization of complex logistics
chains, for example through more intelligent control of pre-carriage and
on-carriage runs to and from seaports.
''With specialized terminals we shall be taking the seaport closer to the
customer and to industry. Everybody profits from that,'' said Dr. Jürgens.
In that context, frequency, service and price are the essential criteria
for superior link quality.
About EUROGATE
EUROGATE is Europe''s leading container terminal and logistics group.
Jointly with Contship Italia, the network operates ten container terminals
from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. A new sea terminal is currently
under construction in Wilhelmshaven. The range of services is rounded off
by intermodal services and specialized logistics management. EUROGATE was
founded in 1999. For further details, see: www.eurogate.eu
About HHLA
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) is one of the leading port logistics
groups in the European North Range. With its Container, Intermodal and
Logistics segments, HHLA is posi-tioned vertically along the transport
chain. Efficient container terminals, high-capacity transport systems and a
full range of logistics services form a complete network between the
overseas port and its European hinterland.
About EUROGATE Intermodal
EUROGATE Intermodal (EGIM) offers an integrated transport network from the
German sea-ports to South Germany and S.E. Europe. Customers receive
details of their tailormade trans-port solution, whether rail or road, from
EGIM. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EUROGATE, Europe''s
largest network of container-terminal operators. For further details:
www.egim.eu.
About HHLA Intermodal
HHLA''s intermodal companies offer a comprehensive rail and road transport
network linking German seaports with their hinterland in Europe. The main
transport services are to Central and Eastern Europe. In 2008 the HHLA
network transported over 1.8 million standard containers. The rail
companies TFG Transfracht (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Metrans (the
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) and Polzug (Poland, the CIS countries)
have successfully spe-cialized in their regional markets, each being the
market leader for container services by rail. By road,
Container-Transport-Dienst (CTD) delivers containers through its branches
Hamburg, Bremen, Berlin and Kornwestheim, as well as with long-haul
services. HHLA will be systematically expanding its network in the years to
come.
Kontakt:
Matthias Funk
Investor Relations
HAMBURGER HAFEN UND LOGISTIK AG
Bei St. Annen 1, D-20457 Hamburg, www.hhla.de
Tel: +49-40-3088-3397
Fax: +49-40-3088-3339
E-mail: investor-relations@hhla.de
01.02.2010 Ad hoc announcement, Financial News and Media Release distributed by DGAP.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de
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Language: English
Company: Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG
Bei St. Annen 1
20457 Hamburg
Deutschland
Internet: www.hhla.de
End of News DGAP-Media
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February 01, 2010 06:00 ET (11:00 GMT)