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29th IAPH World Ports Conference: Hamburg Port Authority extremely satisfied

Hamburg, 5 June 2015 – More than 900 guests spent five days in the Congress Center Hamburg (CCH) discussing the future of international ports and intelligent schemes. The impulses came, not just from the port industry, but from the worlds of air transport, futurology, politics and science.

Olaf Merk, for instance, Administrator Ports and Shipping at the OECD’s International Transport Forum presented a study on the repercussions of Ultra-Large Containerships (ULCSs) and stressed in his lecture that while savings are being derived from container ships of growing size, the costs arising for onward transport and in the hinterland are increasing. Gerd Leonhard, futurist, author and CEO of The Futures Agency spoke about the digital transformation of business and society and its impact on shipping, ports and the maritime industry in 2030.

Along with intelligent solutions for port traffic and freight flows, other topics of discussions and debates included the compatibility of the environment and the port business, legal questions related to the port industry, opportunities for and/or derived from the cruise sector, and Clean Air. Various excursions in the Port of Hamburg enabled visitors to inspect a number of projects run by the HPA and its partners on the spot and gain a personal idea of the smartPORT.

“smartPORT is more than just a word – it is a long-term strategy involving firm projects. We aimed with the conference, not just to display visions to our visitors, but to present specific projects. The many interviews that I held in the course of the conference confirmed for me that we had succeeded in doing so,” said Jens Meier, Chairman of HPA’s Management Board.

“We are delighted that so many people accepted our invitation and came to Hamburg for the World Ports Conference. The five days were packed with exciting discussions, many fresh impressions and lively interchanges,” said Sabine Stüben, Conference Vice President IAPH 2015 and HPA’s Head of Marketing & Communication.

The conference itself was underpinned by a varied, vibrant evening program. After the Reception in Hamburg’s City Hall and the ensuing Dinner at the Chamber of Commerce on Monday, a voyage into the maritime past followed on Tuesday evening. Guests at the Dinner in the International Maritime Museum even had the opportunity to play containership captain on a simulator. Wednesday evening brought a presentation from Bali as the host for the next, 30th IAPH World Ports Conference in 2017. The Balinese truly succeeded in bring the essence of their island right into the Hanseatic City at “Bali Night” in the Beach Center Hamburg. On Thursday evening a festive Gala Dinner in the Fish Auction Hall brought down the curtain on the 29th IAPH World Ports Conference.
 
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