Thinking of the Future

By Mr Ralf Giercke

By 2020 the transport of goods will be grown for about 54%; transporting by ships will increase to 471 million of goods, only 272 million of goods will be transported by overland routes. There is a need to find efficient solutions for the future, for intermodal connections and infrastructure for combined transport, for networking of the harbours.

Upon the initiative of the Lübeck's port corporation, the city was the host for the General Assembly of Baltic Ports Organization. For about three days the guests had been informed about innovations for Cargo handling, efficient terminal utilization, hinterland connections and climate changes. About 100 participants of 50 ports in the Baltic region were discussing about networking, common strategies for the development the Baltic Sea ports and handling cargo.

One of the most interesting aspects discussed during the meeting had been the new overland power connection for the Nordlandkai, which get the possibility to change the charging systems to more nature friendly environment in the whole Baltic Sea Region. The aim is to decrease the use of producing electrical power with gasoline engines. While being in the ports, the ships can charge their energy systems and safe gasoline, which is more environment friendly and safes money. Lübeck's engineering found a new technology to connect the ships with the high power wires.

The ports of Lübeck are the farthermost south-western transhipment hub located in the Baltic Sea and act as the central turntable especially for the traffic between the traditional economic metropolis in west- and central Europe and the fast developing economical region of the Baltic Sea as it had been for centuries, especially in time of the Hanseatic League.