photo: HHLA’s press materials/The HHLA terminal in Odessa was suspended due to the war
The port city of Odessa is also affected by the Russian troop invasion of Ukraine. Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has been operating a terminal there since 2001.
Against the background of the current situation, Angela Titzrath, CEO of HHLA, today said in Hamburg:
“This is a bitter day for all peace-loving people worldwide. We condemn the invasion of the independent nation Ukraine by Russian troops in the strongest possible terms. This is an act contrary to international law that destroys the security architecture that has been tried and tested in Europe for 30 years.
Our concern and sympathy go to the people of Ukraine, who are now being drawn into a senseless war. We are particularly concerned about the 480 employees at our terminal in the port of Odessa. The last employees left the port this morning. Previously, they reliably handled two ships that were then able to leave the port. In order to effectively support our employees in this difficult situation, the HHLA Executive Board decided this morning to pay one month's salary in advance. In this particular situation, our employees can thus stock up on the essential goods accordingly.
HHLA committed itself to Ukraine in the early 2000s, relying on the Helsinki Final Act and other post-Cold War security agreements in Europe. We have since invested about $170 million in the terminal in Odessa. This was also a contribution to securing peace and prosperity in Europe. We have been in close contact with the management in Odessa for days. We have set up a crisis team on site, which coordinates closely with Philip Sweens, Managing Director of HHLA International, here in Hamburg.‘‘
The port of Odessa was closed this morning by the Ukrainian authorities. All HHLA employees have left the terminal. HHLA as a group is not endangered in its substance by the events in Odessa. Since 2014, trade with Russia has already fallen by a quarter as a result of the Russian occupation of Crimea and the subsequent sanctions imposed.
Source: HHLA press releases
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