Ports of Hamburg, Tallinn sign Baltic Sea port cooperation pact

The Port of Hamburg and the Port of Tallinn have formalised a new cooperation framework targeting digitalisation, decarbonisation and supply chain resilience across the Baltic Sea region.

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM) and the Port of Tallinn signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) during a visit by Estonia’s Minister of Infrastructure, Kuldar Leis, to Hamburg City Hall, where he was received by Hamburg’s Senator for Economic Affairs, Dr Melanie Leonhard.

The agreement prioritises the digitalisation of port and logistics processes, cybersecurity, decarbonisation and the development of efficient transport corridors throughout the Baltic Sea region.

Friedrich Stuhrmann, Chief Commercial Officer of the Hamburg Port Authority, said: “I am delighted that today we are further strengthening the long-standing cooperation between the Port of Hamburg and the Port of Tallinn. More than ever, it is clear how important international cooperation has become, whether through multilateral collaboration at European level or bilateral partnerships.

“This Letter of Intent lays the foundation for future cooperation between the ports, not only in traditional trade areas but also with regard to current challenges such as cybersecurity and military mobility.”

Valdo Kalm, CEO of the Port of Tallinn, noted that significant cargo volumes between Estonia and Germany are already handled through the ports of Muuga and Paldiski South in both RoRo and container traffic, describing the German ports of Hamburg and Lübeck as “key strategic partners with considerable potential for deeper cooperation.”

Kalm added: “Closer cooperation opens up additional opportunities in trade, the cruise sector and port development. At the same time, it provides a valuable basis for exchanging expertise in digitalisation and cybersecurity, key issues for the resilience and security of modern supply chains.”

Hendrik Meyn, CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing, stated: “Estonia is an important partner country for the Port of Hamburg. Trade relations are developing positively and, given the growing importance of critical infrastructure, resilient supply chains and sustainable energy and transport systems, these ties are gaining further strategic significance. With this Letter of Intent, we are providing a new framework for this cooperation.”

The LoI builds on established ties between the two ports and follows Senator Leonhard’s visit to Estonia in 2024.

It reflects a broader push by both institutions to position their ports not merely as cargo transhipment points, but as centres for data exchange, energy transition and cross-border infrastructure coordination.