THE switch of base ports by container grouping THE Alliance could result in the loss of an estimated 500,000 TEU for the Port of Bremerhaven to local rival Hamburg
THE switch of base ports by container grouping THE Alliance could result in the loss of an estimated 500,000 TEU for the Port of Bremerhaven to local rival Hamburg. German shipping line Hapag-Lloyd, the largest member of THE Alliance, said in a recent customer advisory that the service relocation would provide improved hinterland connections and better access to the Hamburg city region's strong local market.
The planned shift, likely in the final quarter this year, will deal a 'major blow' to Eurogate's common-user terminal at Bremerhaven, where the four transatlantic loops are currently handled, analysts at Alphaliner stated in a recent weekly report.
Alphaliner estimates that the four services combined account for some 500,000 TEU of annual cargo handling at Bremerhaven, roughly 9 per cent of the port's full-year throughput and possibly close to half of Eurogate Bremerhaven's volume, excluding NTB and MSC Gate, where Eurogate is also involved, reports Singapore's Splash 247.
Historically, Bremerhaven has been regarded as the main container gateway to the US from Germany, whereas Hamburg is better known for its Asian links.
'Such a large-scale re-location will require major changes to long-established hinterland links with large shippers, including the re-routing of block trains and tightly-timed industrial supply chains,' Alphaliner observed.
