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

Antwerp-Bruges stands firm as geopolitical forces reshape trade flows

In the first half of 2026, Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 133.9 million tonnes of maritime cargo, a... Read more

PD Ports announce Paul Foreman as new CEO

PD Ports, one of the UK’s major port and logistics businesses, announced today that Paul Foreman... Read more

New San Diego bulk sugar import facility to use only electric trucks

The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners has approved an Option to Lease Agreement and authorised... Read more

Expanded partnership through bulk infrastructure development at Khalifa Port

AD Ports Group, an Abu Dhabi based, leading global enabler of integrated trade, industry and logistics... Read more

Port of Hamburg strengthens partnership with China

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and SPG Qingdao Port Group have signed a Port Partnership Agreement... Read more

Contract awarded for Pilbara Ports Zone 5 Bypass Channel

The Cook Labor Government in Australia has welcomed the award of a dredging contract to Jan De Nul ... Read more

Netherlands Parliamentary rules out Maasvlakte II as location for new nuclear power plants

A parliamentary letter in the Netherlands on the selection of a site for the construction of two new... Read more

SSAB’s port operations in Raahe develop safety together with ESL Shipping

The long-term safety cooperation between ESL Shipping and the port of SSAB’s Raahe site is visible... Read more

Liverpool sees 200% rise in fertiliser imports interest amid ongoing uncertainty

The Port of Liverpool is experiencing a surge in demand from fertiliser importers as continued uncertainty... Read more

PD Ports strengthens Teesport bulk handling with £5.4m crane investment

PD Ports has further strengthened its bulk handling capability at Teesport with the arrival of... Read more