Maritime trade: backlog of repairs in German ports

The German Seaport Association has announced a total financial need of approximately 15 billion euros for the renovation and expansion of port infrastructure in Germany's coastal states. "This concerns everything from dilapidated quay walls and a lack of heavy-duty areas to inadequate connections to the hinterland," Angela Titzrath, Chair of the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS), told "Welt am Sonntag."

The 15 billion euros would correspond to just three percent of the special infrastructure fund. "This would allow us to fully and sustainably implement all urgently needed modernizations within twelve years," said the outgoing CEO of the Hamburg port logistics company HHLA.

The amount doesn't have to come solely from the infrastructure fund. "The defense budget, the Federal Ministry of Economics' Climate Fund, or funds from the Ministry of Transport are also possible," Titzrath said. After all, German seaports play a key role not only for imports and exports, but also for security of supply in a future energy industry and for Germany's defense.

Overall, the federal government must therefore contribute more financially to the maintenance of the ports. For example, increasing the so-called port burden equalization from the current annual amount of 38 million euros "to 400 million euros—or better yet, 500 million euros—could ensure "that past failures are not repeated," said Titzrath.

At the same time, she welcomed the federal government's announcement that it would allocate an additional €400 million from the Climate and Transformation Fund over the next four years for climate-friendly modernization of shipping and ports. "Sea and inland ports urgently need greater federal commitment." The coastal states cannot meet the challenges alone.