Some residents of Hamburg have come out fiercely opposing the proposed sale of a 49.9% stake in the port’s operator, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHLA), to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
Yesterday, about 2 500 protestors marched through the city’s streets, firing flares and holding up banners marking their opposition to the deal: “Hafen bleibt in öffentlicher Hand! (the port remains in public hands).
The march, organised by opposition party Die Linke (The Left) made its way from the operator’s headquarters, through the port precinct area of HafenCity to the town hall where protestors chanted, “Our port – not your casino!”, amid a strong police presence.
Resistance to the deal comes despite a pledge by the Swiss-run line that it would double the operator’s staff as it seeks to expand TEU throughput at the port by a million within the next eight years. (*)
The deal, worth an estimated $1.4 billion, will also result in significant office expansion and the relocation of MSC’s cruiser fleet to the Elbe River port.
Apart from raising the temperature among those resisting the deal, Kühne + Nagel majority shareholder, Klaus-Michael Kühne, has added his voice against the proposed acquisition.
The 86-year-old billionaire businessman who also holds a 30% stake in Hamburg-run line, Hapag-Lloyd, has warned that the carrier could reduce its freight through the port by as much as 80%.
After last week’s announcement that MSC was on the verge of buying into HHLA, responsible for three of Hamburg’s four terminals, CEO Søren Toft said the line intends to turn Hamburg into a global hub for container movement.
- Read this for context: “MSC on the verge of Hamburg port privatisation”.
