Bremen Port and Logistics Representation Seeks Policymaking that Fulfills Expectations
On a sweltering June evening in 2026, Petra Lüdeke, managing director of the Bremian Port and Logistics Representation (BHV), faced a crowd of industry bigwigs at BLG Cargo Logistics GmbH in the Neustädter Hafen. Their faces wore a mix of unease and determination. After a brief welcome by Jens Bartnick, they delved straight into the thick of things, discussing the results of a recent BHV survey and addressing the challenges businesses in uncertain times are grappling with.
The session began with Patric Drewes, a logistics titan, presenting the survey's findings. A total of 55 companies had participated, painting a picture of the employment market that, despite a persistent shortage of skilled labor and a swelling workforce, was looking surprisingly optimistic. Half the companies anticipated their employee numbers would remain the same in 2025, with 36 percent expecting an increase.
However, the welcome news couldn't mask the persistent issue of filling apprenticeship positions, with just 53 percent of companies successfully doing so in 2024. Drewes implored for more public outreach to attract young talent, bemoaning the Neustädter Hafen's perceived obscurity to potential apprentices partly due to its secluded location and increased security measures following the "Nine/Eleven" incidents.
Drewes also touched upon industry-specific challenges, such as Trump's US trade policy, recurring cost pressure, dilapidated infrastructure, and the perceived shaky ground beneath Berlin politics. When asked about the potential fallout from the conflict in the Middle East, he cautioned that it was too soon to predict how local economies might be affected. Nevertheless, soaring fuel costs due to international shipping could pose a significant threat.
Enter Petra Lüdeke, who emphasized the necessity of a strong network for the industry. The BHV fostered such interconnectedness through various dialogues, working groups, professional exchanges, and new cooperation formats. Sustainability, she asserted, had become a top priority, and the BHV had established a sustainability dialogue accordingly. In addition, artificial intelligence was being embraced by the majority of logistics and port companies to remain competitive, with the proportion adopting AI skyrocketing from 33 to 63 percent in just a year.
The BHV's identity is rooted deeply in the interplay between the association and its members. As Lüdeke put it, "The members determine the topics of the BHV."
Next up was Patrick Rehberg, who vehemently advocated for the Bremen Ports as the lifeblood of Bremen and Bremerhaven. He claimed that the systemic importance of the logistics and port industry was long overdue for political recognition. Inadequate annual basic funding from the federal government had left these North German ports wanting, prompting them to demand a minimum of three percent from the special fund—a total of 11.7 billion euros over the entire duration.
Rehberg further criticized the diversion of a significant portion of the special fund allocated for defense budgets. In particular, he highlighted concerns about the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) preparing for a theoretical NATO attack in 2027/2028. Although he acknowledged that such a threat was not planned, he argued that these scenarios called for logistical preparedness—including the potential transportation of explosives. Thus, the ports require adequate provisions and security measures to handle defense-related goods securely.
Hanseatics have traditionally been quiet when asserting their interests. But Rehberg and his colleagues believe it's high time to raise their voices, pressing for stronger advocacy in federal politics and increased networking in Berlin. The politics, it seems, have a pressing duty to deliver.
(Header image: Neustadt Harbor with loading cranes)
In the realm of Bremian port logistics, companies face a conundrum of managing complex intermodal transport connections, handling specialized cargo, integrating technical logistics services, adapting to digitalization trends, addressing infrastructure modernization and environmental sustainability demands, and navigating regulatory and customs complexities in international maritime transport.
- The conundrum of managing complex intermodal transport connections, handling specialized cargo, and adapting to digitalization trends in Bremian port logistics is a critical concern within the business and finance sector.
- To address this, Petra Lüdeke emphasized the importance of a strong network for the industry, with the BHV fostering interconnectedness through various dialogues, working groups, professional exchanges, and new cooperation formats.
- Patrick Rehberg advocated for political recognition of the systemic importance of the logistics and port industry, pressing for increased advocacy in federal politics, particularly in terms of securing necessary funding and resources, a key policy-and-legislation issue in the general-news landscape.
