After some doubts, the federal government has confirmed that the Chinese state shipping company Cosco can board at the port of Hamburg. “The federal government is sticking to the fact that Cosco may acquire “shares of less than 25 percent” in the container terminal in Tollerort, said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Wednesday evening. The terminal is operated by the Hamburg port company HHLA.
“The HHLA container terminal in Tollerort is now regarded as an operator of critical infrastructure in accordance with legal requirements,” explained Hebestreit. The cabinet decision from the end of October for a so-called partial ban on the purchase, according to which Cosco may acquire a maximum of 24.99 percent, will not be changed. “The federal government confirmed to the parties to the purchase today in a letter that the revised purchase contracts are in line with the conditions of the partial ban,” explained Hebestreit.
After pressure, Cosco is only allowed to hold less than 25 percent
The federal cabinet allowed Cosco to enter the port of Hamburg in October despite widespread political concerns. Under pressure from several ministries, the state-owned company was only allowed to hold a minority stake of less than 25 percent.
After that, however, the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) classified the container terminal at Tollerort as a critical infrastructure. This was “discussed at the end of 2022 and registered at the beginning of 2023,” HHLA announced in April. The Federal Ministry of Economics explained that with the new classification of the terminal “the conditions have changed” and the ministry will examine “the effects on the facts”. This test has now apparently been completed.
