2008

BPO General Assembly, 11-12 September 2008, Lübeck: German ports to double the cargo in 2025

Delegates from all ports around the Baltic Sea has gathered in Lübeck during the BPO General Assembly. German ports located in the Baltic will double the cargo turnover until 2025. Dr Jens-Albert Oppel, managing director of the ISL-Baltic, when speaking at the BPO General Assembly said that port must improve the efficiency. German government has sponsored the research program called ISETEC that will allow to identify main bottlenecks in the ports and in hinterland. Hans-Gerd Gieleßen, managing director of Lübecker Hafen-Gesellschaft, host port of the BPO General Assembly, said that the training of people is a key factor for sustaining the port growth in the future. In opinion of many BPO delegates, ports may suffer in the future from lack of qualify young professionals.

Discussion during the BPO General Assembly was dominated by themes of port efficiency, climate change and smart solutions for hinterland connections.  The event gathered about 80 executives from all major Baltic ports, port-related industries, port international organizations, consulting companies, academia and media. The official opening of the conference ‘Innovations in seaports: cargo handling, efficient terminal utilization, hinterland connections, climate change' was made by Mr. Julian Skelnik, BPO Chairman and top-level spokespersons - representatives of governments (Mr. Stefan Musiolik, Ministry of Justice, Employment and European Affairs of Land Schleswig-Holstein), ports (Mr. Hans-Gerd Gieleßen, LHG), politics (Mrs. Gabriele Schopenhauer, President of the City of Lübeck) and academics (Mr. Maciej Matczak, Gdynia Maritime University). Both days of the event gave participants an opportunity to hear with interest all of the lectures and learn more about new port projects (Railports Scandinavia, new Vuosaari terminal) or about innovations and ports developments (Ust-Luga Seaport). Big part of the conference was dedicated to climate change and how ports can act for better climate and be environmentally friendly.

In the evening there was a Gala Dinner and bus tour through the Port of Lübeck where major part of participants attended.
The BPO General Assembly was kindly sponsored by LHG, Konecranes and Visy Oy with support of the Ehrenberg Kommunikation which was a PR Partner of the conference.

Next year General Assembly will be held in Aarhus, Denmark. Bjarne Mathiesen, Port of Aarhus director, has already invited all delegates to attend the event.