Climate friendly logistic chains

Accounting for around one-fifth of all carbon emissions in the European Union (EU), the transport sector is a major emitter of CO₂ emitter. Transport volumes have risen significantly over recent decades and further growth is forecast. This is often associated with higher carbon emissions as fossil fuels continue to be the main energy source for transport by truck and ship. Of these emissions, a comparatively low 2.9 % is attributable to seaborne transport, which accounts for over 90 % of the global trade in goods. As a result of their enormous capacity of up to 24,000 standard containers, container mega-ships offer the best carbon footprint per tonne of goods transported. Rail transport is considered the most environmentally advantageous mode of transport on land as it is highly energy efficient and can be made carbon neutral.

HHLA’s business model of linking two environmentally advantageous modes of transport, ships and trains, to create climate-friendly logistics chains is its most important contribution towards sustainability and climate and environmental protection. This is also underlined by the EU Taxonomy Regulation, in force since 2021, which classifies HHLA’s primary activities as taxonomy-eligible. HHLA and METRANS link the Northern European and Adriatic ports with Central and Eastern Europe via a highly efficient intermodal network. The linkage of ocean-going vessels with feeders, inland waterway ships, barges and rail requires nothing less than the organisation of ideal multimodal transport chains. These transport chains save energy and infrastructure while causing comparatively little noise and fewer accidents. Hamburg’s location deep inland is a further advantage, as the river Elbe is an environmentally friendly transport route.

HHLA also integrates other stakeholders into its creation of climate-friendly logistics chains. As the central, neutral and industry-wide coordination point for mega-ship, feeder and inland waterway vessel traffic in the Port of Hamburg, the Hamburg Vessel Coordination Center (HVCC) offers terminals and shipping companies operational coordination services to optimise the emissions of arriving and departing ships.

With its HHLA Pure product, HHLA offers its customers certified, climate-neutral container transport and container handling for all Hamburg container terminals and most routes in the METRANS network.