Management of impacts, risks and opportunities

Strategic framework

Sediment is deposited in the seaward approach channels leading to the Port of Hamburg as a result of the interaction between tidal currents and inflows from the Upper Elbe. This can result in draught restrictions at the terminal berths and in the Elbe navigation channel due to reduced depths, which can lead to restrictions on maximum ship draughts. Ensuring that the required depths approved as part of the plan approval order are maintained requires ongoing sediment management of the river Elbe and in the Port of Hamburg through water depth maintenance measures.

Depending on the geographical location, sediment management and water depth maintenance in the Port of Hamburg and its approach channels are the responsibility of the Hamburg Port Authority, which is responsible for the Port of Hamburg and the required depths at the terminals and up to the state border, or the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV), which is responsible for waterways beyond Hamburg’s federal state borders.

HHLA assesses the actual depths on an ongoing basis and is committed to ensuring that the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and the WSV maintain the required depths specified in the lease agreement and approved as part of the plan approval order. 4. Strategic environment/infrastructure

Actions

HHLA's ongoing actions to monitor and ensure maintenance of the required depths approved in the plan approval order and guaranteed in the lease agreements focus on dialogue with the relevant project developers and authorities.

Targets

In order to avoid draught restrictions, HHLA’s ongoing aim is to ensure maintenance of the required depths, as approved in the plan approval order, for accessibility to the HHLA terminals in Hamburg, as well as the required depths for berths and their approach channels set out in the lease agreements with HPA and WSV.