Hamburg “will be crucial” for Antwerp’s war on drugs | Interior

“We have seen part of the traffic gradually shift from Antwerp and Rotterdam to Hamburg in recent years,” says Peter Tschentscher. “It is therefore crucial that we act quickly and start a collaboration with the two neighbours.”

De Wever is relieved. “After all, additional checking creates a competitive disadvantage because of the high investment costs,” he says. “For that reason alone, Hamburg should join the bath.”

In addition, De Wever wants to start tackling the source countries of the cocaine trade. The mayor wants to lobby together with the Netherlands and Germany for an adjustment of the so-called ISPS rules. These were introduced after the attacks of September 11, 2001 and regulate security in the ports. De Wever wants to include strict drug controls in the source countries in that code, on pain of an entry ban in our ports.

Hamburg, on the other hand, expects help from Antwerp for the introduction of shore power. This technology allows container ships to use power from the electricity grid instead of running their engines when docked. “We are competitors from an economic point of view, but we can be partners in this,” says Tschentscher.

Hamburg has invested heavily in shore power, but is threatening to become a more expensive port as a result. “Hamburg asks us to lobby Europe together for an obligation,” says De Wever. “That is possible for us, but then there must also be a European budget.”

Both ports already have a non-binding memorandum to provide shore power by 2028. “But that is becoming sharp”, says Port alderman Annick De Ridder. “The newly constructed Saeftinghedok can be an accelerator. That dock will be state-of-the-art, largely automated and with shore power on all quays.”