A public sector strike at the Port of Hamburg has largely paralyzed cargo ship movements at Germany’s largest and most important port.
This was confirmed on Thursday by a spokesperson for the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) to the dpa news agency.
Large container ships that require pilot guidance to navigate the Elbe River between the North Sea and the Port of Hamburg are unable to move because transfer boats that transport pilots between the shore and ships have stopped operating due to the strike.
Without these transfer boats, pilots cannot board vessels, and without pilots—who guide often unfamiliar ship crews through complex passages—container ships cannot pass through the Port of Hamburg.
Authorities stated that vessels not requiring pilots can still enter and exit the port as usual, and intra-port transport operations will continue. An agreement with the striking union ensures emergency assistance in case of urgent situations.
According to the HPA, the strike is also affecting protective structures, locks, and movable bridges around the Port of Hamburg.
The strike was called by the Verdi union, which reported that container ship traffic at the port had been halted since 6:00 PM on Wednesday. A Verdi spokesperson confirmed that the situation would remain unchanged throughout the day but could not specify how many ships would be affected and left waiting in the North Sea.
According to the HPA, vessel traffic is expected to resume on Friday morning—provided the strike does not continue.
