Enormous willingness to help Odessa HHLA families

(Posted on 18/03/22)

It is the preliminary end of a long journey: the first families of HHLA staff members from Ukraine have arrived in Hamburg. Approximately 80 women, children and older people who decided to flee their homeland arrived at the company’s main building on two touring coaches chartered by HHLA. A third bus with 40 additional refugees is expected within the next few days.

Since the closure of its terminal in the port of Odessa following the Russian attacks on Ukraine, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG has assigned top priority to the safety of its 480 employees and their families. Together with consultancy subsidiary HPC, a HHLA team consisting of employees working in various areas organised transportation from Romania, where the refugees had arrived, to Hamburg. In addition, support staff assisted people who had fled Odessa in their private cars.

The refugees will stay with German HHLA employees temporarily. More than 70 HHLA employees and their relatives and neighbours responded to the company’s call and have offered people a place to stay in their homes. The German employees are not only providing the refugees with “homes” for the initial period but also serve as contacts and chaperones for pending bureaucratic procedures. They are supported by HHLA staff members with knowledge of Ukrainian and Russian.

Furthermore, HHLA employees have collected more than 40,000 euros within a short period of time in the course of a “Together for Odessa” pledge campaign.

With regard to the refugees’ arrival, Chairwoman of HHLA’s Executive Board Angela Titzrath states: “As one of Europe’s leading logistics companies, we are aware of our responsibility for our employees, no matter at which location they work for us. Cohesion and the ability to rely on one another are distinguishing features of our corporate culture that will stand the test in these difficult times, as they do in our everyday working lives. We are also demonstrating solidarity with our staff members in Odessa by continuing to reliably fulfil our supply mandate at all other locations and by rail.”  

HHLA Labour Director Torben Seebold, who welcomed the refugees in the company headquarters, declares: “The Executive Board is deeply moved by our employees’ tremendous effort on behalf of their colleagues in Odessa. We stand together as HHLA family to take a common stance of solidarity and humanity. During this time, our thoughts are particularly with the employees who remained in Odessa and who are looking after security at the terminal or who have been called to military duty.”

In consultation with the local authorities, the HHLA terminal in Odessa was closed and employees sent home when the Russian army invaded. The HHLA Executive Board immediately arranged to pay employees their monthly salaries in advance so that they could stockpile goods they need for everyday consumption. 

Latest News

World first cross-border CO2 capture project in North Sea Port

A 194 million euro investment in North Sea Port will secure large-scale CO2 reduction by the largest... Read more

German port industry expects ambitious port policy

The Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS) has called for a decisive German port policy... Read more

Pilbara potential for ammonia as clean iron ore carriers fuel

A groundbreaking feasibility study has highlighted the potential for using clean ammonia to refuel ships... Read more

New IAPH Board ratified with Jens Meier appointed President

IAPH has announced the ratification by the IAPH Council of the new IAPH Board. The Board is formed by... Read more

CN Announces Nova Scotia partnership with Genesee & Wyoming

CN has announced that it acquired from Genesee & Wyoming Inc., a stake in the Cape Breton &... Read more

Hamburg Port increases port fees as of January 2024

Due to continued very high inflation, the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) will raise port fees by an average... Read more

New Lead Property Asset Manager to spearhead strategic growth at ABP

The UK’s leading ports group, Associated British Ports (ABP), has appointed Jeff Gibb as Lead... Read more

Total Rotterdam throughput falls as iron ore and scrap increase

In the first nine months of 2023, there was 6% less throughput in the port of Rotterdam: 329.9 million... Read more

Continued economic instability impacts Port of Antwerp-Bruges

After nine months, the total throughput of Port of Antwerp-Bruges was 204.4 million tonnes, a drop of... Read more

LOGISTEC enters agreement to be acquired by Blue Wolf Capital Partners

LOGISTEC Corporation have announced that it has entered into an arrangement agreement with 1443373... Read more