Port of Hamburg Magazin 03 - Hafen Hamburg

75.
The Great Jubilee Special
T
he Lübeck port company (LHG)
celebrated its 75th birthday
his year. On January 1, 1935,
the company went into service.
From its humble origins Germany’s
biggest Baltic seaport, the biggest
ro-ro port of Germany and one of
the most important economic
factors in the region Lübeck has
grown over the course of the decades.
LHG, together with its
subsidiaries and shareholdings of
handling operations, developed
into a Europe-wide operating logistics
corporation that employs
around 1000 people and generated
a turnover of almost 120 million
Euro in 2009. >>>
Foto: LHG
A short historcal reflection
will show the stations along
the way:
30s: On January 2, 1935, LHG officially
begins its work after the registration in the
commercial register became effective
already on September 14, 1934. In the –
until then obsolete port – new halls, cranes,
feeders and track connections will emerge.
40s: This was the probably most difficult
time for the company. The war casts its
shadows on the quays. Even areas of the
ports are destroyed by bombs. After 1945,
the port made slow but steady progress.
50s: The upswing occurred not least because
of the involvement of the financially
strong federation in the LHG. Since 1951,
the state and the federal government each
have a 50 percent interest. In the course
of the years, a completely new terminal will
be built at the outwork port. The turnover
figures rise every year.
60s: The increasing traffic triggers new
rounds of investments. In 1962, the
Scandinavia quay is founded. The share
of the LHG in the entire turnover of the Port
of Lübeck, which accounts in 1960 with
1,1 million tons only for 37 percent, rises at
the end of the year to 4,3 million tons and
almost 60 percent.
70s: Ferry traffic to Sweden and Finland,
together with the turnover of paper, becomes
the main pillar of LHG. Meanwhile,
around 10.000 workplaces are directly or
indirectly port-related. For the first time in
1979, the port turns over 10 million tons.
Since then, LHG makes over 80 percent of
the entire port handling in Lübeck.
80s: Further developments will follow at the
Nordland quay, which is becoming
Germany’s biggest paper terminal. Giant
warehouses are created, which are filled
with paper from Finland for Europe up to
the roof. At the same time, the area and
the investment volume are rising at the
Scandinavia quay. By 1980, 25 million passengers
have been welcomed. At the
Scandinavia quay alone, the turnover grew
by 50 times during its first 20 years and
accounts for 10,1 million tons (1982).
90s: The Scandinavia quay dominates the
development of this decade. In 1991, the 8th
ferry terminal is completed. Due to the size
of the ferry it is necessary to build a doubleramp
feeder. While the peninsula has lost
its importance and was returned by LHG to
the Hanseatic city Lübeck, a completely
new terminal for forest products develops in
Schlutup, which continues to successfully
expand Lübeck´s competency in the turnover
of paper. LHG, a fully owned subsidiary
of the Hanseatic city Lübeck since 1999,
develops from a port operator to a Europewide
operating logistics company.
The turnover of Lübeck´s port in 1999
accounted for over 25 million tons. LHG has
a share of over 90 percent.
The new millennium: LHG and its subsidiaries
employ 1000 people. Further resources
for expansion flow into the Scandinavia
quay that now has 9 feeders. In 2003, the
railway terminal Baltic Rail Gate went
into operation for intermodal transport.
A new port house was constructed at the
Scandinavia quay, where LHG, shipping
companies, forwarding agencies and
authorities have their offices. On the
premises of the former Flender shipyard,
LGH and the city construct the Seeland
quay, a new terminal for the turnover of
ro-ro goods and containers. The Nordland
quay specializes in new turnover methods
in the paper industry. In 2007, the finance
investor RREEF, a subsidiary of the
Deutsche Bank, holds a share of 25,1 per
cent as strategic partner with LHG.
In 2007, the turnover accounts for about
33 million tons. Again, Interest of LHG
accounts for more than 90 percent.
Following the economic crisis in the
years 2008/2009, which mean a drop of
15 percent in turnover, the situation
stabilizes slowly in 2010.
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