In Germany, the Port of Hamburg has announced that it is lowering its fees in an effort to secure future growth, following talks with the shipping industry and Senator Axel Gedaschko of the State Ministry of Economic and Labour Affairs.
The strategy, which will see incentives developed to increase traffic flow, will also include the expansion and improvement of public port infrastructure through a €1bn investment, generated through the sale of HHLA shares in 2007.
'The more traffic you route through Hamburg, the more you'll benefit,' said Jens Meier, managing director of the Hamburg Port Authority. In addition to the volume rebate of up to 50 per cent for additional traffic, a time-limited transhipment incentive system is set to be introduced. 'That way we are strengthening our position as a feeder traffic hub in the North and Baltic Sea area,' Mr Meier added.
The port fee package provides that tariffs will not be increased in 2010, and will be limited to one year at first, before the possibility of incorporating a volume and climate component in the future.
'With these measures, Hamburg is expanding its leading role among the North Range ports with regard to port fees,' said Senator Gedaschko. 'Contrary to our competitors, we do not respond to the tight economic situation by introducing a short-sighted crisis tariff. Instead, we have developed a joint strategy that puts long-term growth first and offers the customers of the Port of Hamburg planning security.'
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