A proposed partnership between French shipping giant CMA CGM and German port operator Eurogate to develop a new terminal in Hamburg has reportedly collapsed, according to shipping analyst Alphaliner.
The collaboration centered on the Westerweiterung project, a 24-hectare expansion of Eurogate’s Burchardkai facility aimed at significantly increasing the port’s capacity.
While Hamburg officials had encouraged Eurogate to partner with a shipping line for the project, negotiations with CMA CGM failed to yield an agreement, Alphaliner reports.
Local newspaper DVZ highlighted concerns from municipal representatives over Eurogate’s financial capacity to independently fund the €1 billion project, prompting calls for collaboration with a shipping line.
This mirrored a prior arrangement Eurogate had explored with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), the latter being predominantly city-owned at the time.
Planning approval for the Westerweiterung project, granted in 2016, allows for land reclamation and the construction of two berths, measuring 450 meters and 600 meters.
Once completed, the expansion is expected to increase the port’s annual capacity by approximately two million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).
Despite the collapse of this partnership, Hamburg remains committed to revitalizing its port operations. The recent MSC investment in HHLA has strengthened local determination to enhance port infrastructure, including the automation retrofit project at Burchardkai.
CMA CGM’s withdrawal from the Westerweiterung project may pave the way for other shipping lines, such as MSC or Hapag-Lloyd, to step in.
Alphaliner noted that Hamburg is eager to advance this critical expansion, which already has full planning approval, and remains open to alternative partnerships to ensure its success.
This development underscores Hamburg’s strategic efforts to secure investments and partnerships to maintain its competitiveness in the global shipping industry.
