03.05.2025

Distinguished German Maritime and Logistics Delegation Visited Estonia and the HHLA TK Estonia Terminal

In April, a German delegation of over 30 representatives from the port cities of Hamburg and Lübeck visited Estonia. They participated in the first-ever Estonian-German Port Forum focused on developments and cooperation opportunities in the maritime and logistics sectors. The delegation also visited the Port of Muuga and the HHLA TK Estonia terminal.

The Estonian-German Port Forum, attended by nearly 100 participants, centered on strengthening collaboration between Estonian and German ports, and on digitalization and innovation as key drivers for the future of the logistics sector. The forum was opened by Marina Basso, Director for the European Region at Hamburg Port Marketing (HHM).

Welcoming remarks were delivered by Kaupo Läänerand, Deputy Secretary General for Maritime Affairs and the Aquatic Environment at the Estonian Ministry of Climate; Mario Sauder, Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Estonia; Niels Wiecker, Head of Port and Logistics at Hamburg's Ministry of Economy and Innovation; and Sigrid Harjo, Member of the Board at the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EISA).

In a panel discussion, Valdo Kalm (Chairman of the Management Board of Port of Tallinn), Riia Sillave (CEO of HHLA TK Estonia), Michael Rudnik (Head of Sales and Marketing at Port of Lübeck), and Dirk Witteveen (CEO of shipping company Transfennica) discussed ways to enhance port competitiveness and the role of innovation and digitalization in today’s geopolitical climate. The panel was moderated by Sebastian Reimann, Editor-in-Chief of DVZ, Germany’s leading logistics and transport journal.

Johannes Berg, Head of Corporate Development at the HHLA Group, presented on "Estonian-German Maritime Sector Cooperation," highlighting HHLA's cross-border experience through the example of Estonia’s largest cargo gateway – the HHLA TK Estonia terminal.

Sebastian Jürgens, CEO of the Port of Lübeck, in turn focused on the future potential of port and logistics cooperation between Estonia and Germany.

Visit to Muuga Port

As part of the visit, the German delegation toured Muuga Port. Valdo Kalm presented the development plans for the port, and Lauri Ulm, Member of the Management Board of Rail Baltic Estonia, outlined the current status and future prospects of the upcoming high-speed rail project. Riia Sillave and Andres Uusoja, Member of the Management Board at HHLA TK Estonia, introduced the terminal’s operations. In collaboration with FERNRIDE representatives Maria Tarasova and Julia Fieblich, visitors were also given an overview of the autonomous terminal truck pilot project being tested at Muuga.

The visit was jointly organized by the Port of Lübeck (LHG) and Hamburg Port Marketing (HHM), with program support from various partners including Port of Tallinn, Enterprise Estonia, HHLA TK Estonia, Transfennica, and the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Photos author: Arno Mikkor