Jürgens Places Great Hope in the National Maritime Conference

As part of his inaugural visit, the Emder Hafenförderungsgesellschaft (EHFG) e. V. welcomed Prof. Dr. Sebastian Jürgens as the new President of the Zentralverband der deutschen Seehafenbetriebe e. V. (ZDS) at the Port of Emden. “I am impressed by the wide range of services offered by this port,” said Jürgens following his first visit to the universal port at the mouth of the River Ems. “With the handling of automobiles, forest products, construction materials, military goods, and wind energy installations, the Port of Emden stands on a broad and sustainable foundation. This diversity accounts for much of its success,” Jürgens continued. He was accompanied by ZDS Managing Director Dr. Florian Keisinger and Inke Onnen-Lübben, Managing Director of Seaports of Niedersachsen GmbH. He emphasized the strong and close cooperation between the association he leads and the Port of Emden. 

Together with EHFG Supervisory Board Chairman Timo Siebahn and EHFG Board Member Reinhard Hegewald, the ZDS leadership also visited the offshore supply vessel “Wind of Change,” which was moored at the southern quay in Emden. The vessel was taking on personnel and materials for its next deployment to offshore wind farms in the North Sea. 

Dirk Krauß of EVAG Verkehrs und Automotive GmbH, Jan Remmers of Anker Schiffahrts-Gesellschaft mbH, Max-Martin Deinhard of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for East Frisia and Papenburg, and Jens Peters of the City of Emden’s Business Development and City Marketing GmbH expressed confidence during discussions with Jürgens and Keisinger that the National Maritime Conference, taking place on April 29 and 30 in Emden, would generate tangible momentum from the federal government for the maritime industry. “This is the opportunity for the federal government to follow up its words with action,” Jürgens stated. He was referring to a passage on the maritime industry in the coalition agreement of the CDU, CSU, and SPD, in which the coalition partners emphasized that Germany depends on a competitive port infrastructure with strong hinterland connections that also takes into account military and energy policy requirements.

The ZDS, headquartered in Hamburg and Berlin, represents the interests of the port industry, strengthens the sector’s public profile, and acts as an employers’ association. The federal association, with its Europe-wide network, sees itself as the voice of the port industry in political matters (www.zds-seehäfen.de).www.zds-seehäfen.de)