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Cosco acquires 35% stake in Hamburg container terminal

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHLA) and Hong Kong-listed terminal operator Cosco Shipping Ports Limited (CSPL) have struck a deal that will see CSPL acquire a 35% stake in HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT) marking the first investment by a non-German operator into the country’s main container port.

The transaction should result in CTT becoming a preferred transshipment point for Cosco, and HHLA expects the deal will deliver long-term secured capacity and employment in the Port of Hamburg.

“The first Chinese vessel was processed at Tollerort back in 1982. Since then, the terminal has become a hub for the liner services of what is now Cosco Shipping Lines. Against this background, HHLA and Cosco equally pursue the goal of successfully securing the future of CTT and an even more efficient dovetailing of Chinese logistics flows in Hamburg,” said Angela Titzrath, chairwoman of HHLA’s executive board.

CTT is one of three HHLA container terminals at the Port of Hamburg. The terminal has four berths and 14 container gantry cranes. Among others, two Far East services, a Mediterranean service and a Baltic feeder service of Cosco are handled at CTT today.

According to HHLA, nearly every third container that is handled in Hamburg has its origin in China or is destined for the Chinese market. “Through this strategic partnership with CSPL, it is not just CTT and HHLA that will benefit – Hamburg’s position as a logistical hub in the European North Range and for the Baltic region will also be strengthened.”

HHLA and CSPL announced the Tollerort terminal talks in June this year. Cosco also has operations based at the Port of Piraeus, Italy’s Vardo Reefer Terminal, Bilbao and Valencia, Zeebrugge, Antwerp, and Rotterdam’s Euromax terminal. The closing of the transaction is subject to various competition and foreign trade approvals. HHLA’s supervisory board has already approved the deal.

Adis Ajdin

Adis is an experienced news reporter with a background in finance, media and education. He has written across the spectrum of offshore energy and ocean industries for many years and is a member of International Federation of Journalists. Previously he had written for Navingo media group titles including Offshore Energy, Subsea World News and Marine Energy.
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