Latest news with #HHLA
Forbes
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
FERNRIDE Launches Driverless Operations At HHLA TK Estonia Seaport
FERNRIDE, the European pioneer in yard truck automation, announced today that it has begun the ... More transition to driverless operation of terminal tractors at the sprawling HHLA TK Estonia logistics terminal. FERNRIDE, the European pioneer in yard truck automation, announced today that it has begun the transition to driverless operation of terminal tractors. This is occurring at the sprawling HHLA TK Estonia logistics terminal, which is situated on the Baltic Sea near Tallinn. Together, the two companies aim to set new standards for safety and efficiency in port logistics by leveraging driverless technology. In contrast to driverless freight runs on highways and streets, yard trucks operate on pavement within industrial facilities, moving trailers and/or containers. FERNRIDE offers a human-assisted autonomy approach to this use case, which allows for remote takeovers of trucks when necessary. This ensures seamless integration and reliable operations for logistics operators. With over a decade of research and high-profile customers, including Volkswagen, HHLA, and DB Schenker, FERNRIDE applies technology to address significant industry challenges, such as driver shortages and the negative environmental impact of logistics operations. The company was founded by Hendrik Kramer, Maximilian Fisser, and Jean-Michael Georg and currently has over 150 employees. Founded in 2020, FERNRIDE has raised more than 60M USD in venture funding. In the Estonian seaport of Muuga, near the capital Tallinn, HHLA operates the multipurpose terminal HHLA TK (Transiidikeskuse) Estonia. The company handles general, bulk and ro-ro cargo and is connected to the international rail network. Certification: The Key To Opening Market Opportunity in Europe Fernride's transition to driverless operations follows the successful certification of FERNRIDE's safety concept and system design by TÜV SÜD, as well as approval by the Estonian Transport Administration (ETA). In fact, FERNRIDE notes that it is the first company to receive TÜV SÜD certification for an autonomous terminal tractor in accordance with the EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC). TÜV SÜD has been front and center in providing external safety assessments for Automated Driving System developers. On-road truck automation players Aurora and Gatik, among others, have used their services as a key step in moving to driverless operations. But the nature of a TÜV SÜD assessment can vary widely, depending on what the client asks for. In discussions with FERNRIDE for this story, I sought to know more about the level of thoroughness the evaluation entailed. FERNRIDE asked TÜV SÜD for a holistic approach. The types of assessments conducted by TÜV SÜD covered the entire system, not just individual modules. The analysis encompassed the vehicle, sensors, computing hardware, software, and cybersecurity with respect to ISO 3691-4 (driverless trucks), ISO 12100 (risk assessment and safety), ISO 13849 (functional safety), and IEC TS 63074 (security for functional safety). In addition, the certification included FERNRIDE's safety concept and system design, and full testing of the autonomous terminal tractor. TÜV SÜD confirmed that the whole system meets the European Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC), which defines uniform health and safety requirements for machinery and equivalent products for free trade within the European Economic Area. According to Benedikt Pulver, Head of the Machine Safety Department at TÜV SÜD, this is the first TÜV SÜD certification for a driverless truck for horizontal container transport worldwide. This sets a new benchmark for autonomous terminal tractors. To get to this point was not a trivial process. To achieve this level of safety certification, FERNRIDE ran extensive tests. The engineers performed over 2.8 million automated software tests every week and up to 80 physical test scenarios per day on real vehicles. They also conducted 1,200 full-system design validation tests to check the entire system as well as more than 4,800 software test cases to cover edge conditions like object behavior, sensor issues, traffic rules, and stress tests for safety and security. These activities occurred over two years of daily operations at customer sites, verifying that the system worked safely in a real terminal environment. But more approvals were necessary. HHLA TK Estonia requested approval from ETA to run driverless operations. The ETA reviewed the safety functions built into the FERNRIDE system and the full test reports, which TÜV SÜD had already assessed. The ETA concluded that FERNRIDE's product meets the required safety level for driverless operation in the HHLA TK Estonia port. What does all this mean? FERNRIDE can now market its product in the European single market and internationally. Customers can buy their vehicles and services as CE-marked container handling equipment, meeting all required safety and procurement standards. Hendrik Kramer, FERNRIDE CEO, said 'This is a defining moment not only for FERNRIDE but for the entire autonomous logistics industry in Europe. From day one, we've made safety the foundation of everything we build. Meeting Europe's most stringent regulatory standards took a remarkable effort, and I'm incredibly proud of our team's dedication and precision throughout this journey. This certification proves that our technology meets the highest safety benchmarks, not just in theory, but in practice, and brings us one step closer to making autonomous logistics a commercial reality across the EU.' Riia Sillave, CEO of HHLA TK Estonia, added that 'Entering the phase of driverless terminal transport marks a significant milestone – not just for our collaboration with FERNRIDE, but for the future of terminal operations. As one of the first terminals to take this step, we are shaping the path toward a more intelligent and efficient logistics. We trust that innovation succeeds by including the know-how of our employees – our team's engagement is the foundation for the integration of this technology into everyday operations.' Noting that FERNRIDE is the first to receive TÜV SÜD certification for a specific port application involving autonomous trucks, Benedikt Pulver, head of the machine safety department at TÜV SÜD, emphasized that 'This milestone could establish a new benchmark for safety and compliance in autonomous trucking for terminal applications.' FERNRIDE and HHLA have had an ongoing partnership since early 2023, working closely to ensure a seamless transition into live operations, executing productive moves on the terminal. The strategy focuses on implementing a gradual approach to integrate FERNRIDE-enabled autonomous terminal tractors at HHLA TK Estonia without safety drivers. Three FERNRIDE tractors are currently in operation at the terminal. FERNRIDE has implemented structured roll-out scenarios and standard procedures to train on-site personnel through the transition to fully driverless operations. Bottom Line FERNRIDE characterizes this achievement as 'a significant milestone for autonomous logistics in Europe.' They are not alone in this space. Competitors Forterra, ISEE, and Outrider are highly active in the U.S. and in some cases are working with European yard truck manufacturers. The market for yard trucks is substantial. Success for any one of the players, as well as the end-users, constitutes a rising tide for industrial autonomy. Disclosure: Richard Bishop is an Advisor to and/or an equity holder in the following companies mentioned in this article: Aurora, Forterra, Gatik, Outrider.
Observer
17-04-2025
- Business
- Observer
Major firms join Oman-Europe Liquid H2 Corridor project
MUSCAT: Leading European businesses, notably Tata Steel Nederland, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), Port of Duisburg, and Hynetwork are among a conglomerate of companies that are now part of a historic bid to establish the world's first Liquid Hydrogen Corridor linking Oman and Europe. A Joint Development Agreement (JDA) signed earlier this week in conjunction with the state visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to The Netherlands, saw a total of 11 organisations committing to working collaboratively to enable the transportation of Omani green hydrogen to markets in the Europe. Representing Oman in the consortium are Hydrom (Oman's national green hydrogen orchestrator), OQ (Oman's global integrated energy group), and Port of Duqm Company. Together with their European partners, they will be leveraging their respective strengths in rolling out a supply chain encompassing the liquefaction, transport, storage, and distribution of liquid hydrogen. Tata Steel Nederland, one of Europe's largest steel producers, has signed up to secure its green hydrogen requirements when it begins a transition to low-carbon steel production starting by 2030. Hans van den Berg - CEO Tata Steel Nederland, commented: "In our role as a large potential buyer, we can contribute to the development of a sustainable economy based on green hydrogen in our region. In this way, we not only make our own production process more sustainable, but we also help to build a new ecosystem together with other companies." Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), a leading operator of seaport terminals and transport hubs in Europe, says it will leverage the Europe-wide intermodal network of its rail subsidiary Metrans to ensure the efficient onward distribution of hydrogen. "For HHLA, hydrogen is an important element of the journey towards climate neutrality by 2040," emphasised Annette Walter, Chief Financial Officer of HHLA. "Liquid hydrogen plays a key role here, as it can be transported independently of pipelines - which is ideal for mobility and logistics, the aviation industry, and small and medium-sized industrial and chemical companies. With our European logistics network, we want to efficiently transport hydrogen from the import ports to end consumers in Germany and Europe." Also set to play a key role is Hynetwork, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dutch gas transportation company Gasunie. Hynetwork is currently building a 1,200km Dutch hydrogen network of hydrogen pipelines to connect industrial sites to each other, to foreign countries and to import and storage sites. 'In addition to the construction of the national hydrogen network, we are actively working on the infrastructure for the large-scale transport and storage of hydrogen, so that the hydrogen can be transported from the Netherlands to the industrial regions in the hinterland,' said Hynetwork in a post. Linking the proposed Liquid Corridor to Germany is the Port of Duisburg (Duisport), also a signatory to the landmark JDA. 'As the largest inland port in the world, Duisport plays an important role in the energy transition: this agreement reaffirms the port's position as a central hub for the industrial supply of green hydrogen,' the Port authority said in a post. Alexander Garbar, Head of Corporate Development at Duisport, stated: "We are bringing green hydrogen to where it is needed – to the industrial centres of NRW. Together with Hydrom, ECOLOG, the Port of Amsterdam and other partners, we are creating the infrastructure for a reliable, international supply chain.' Other signatories of the JDA are Port of Amsterdam, ECOLOG, EnBW and Advanced Methanol Amsterdam. All 11 partners are targeting the flow of Omani liquid green hydrogen to Europe by 2030.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (XTER:HHFA) Full Year 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Resilient ...
Container Throughput: Increased by 0.9% to 5.9 million TEU in 2024. International Container Terminals Throughput: Increased by 23.1% to 284,000 TEU. Segment Revenue: Increased by 9.9% to EUR773.3 million. EBIT: Rose by 66.6% to EUR78.7 million. EBIT Margin: Increased by 3.5 percentage points to 10.2%. Intermodal Segment Revenue: Increased by 14.6% to EUR711.3 million. Intermodal Segment EBIT: Increased by 14.8% to EUR83.7 million. Logistics Segment Revenue: Increased by 7% to EUR83.7 million. Cash Flow from Operating Activities: EUR179.9 million. Investing Activities Net Cash Outflow: EUR280.8 million. Free Cash Flow: Negative EUR100.9 million. Cash Flow from Financing Activities: EUR156.3 million. Available Liquidity: EUR250 million at the end of December 2024. Proposed Dividend: EUR0.16 per Class A share for 2024. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with XTER:HHFA. Release Date: March 26, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (XTER:HHFA) demonstrated resilience and flexibility in a challenging global economic environment, strengthening its position as a leading European logistics network provider. The company increased container throughput and transport, driven by the strengthening of its rail subsidiary Metrans and the acquisition of a majority stake in Roland Spedition. Significant revenue growth was recorded in the Port Logistics subgroup, with a 9.9% year-on-year increase to EUR773.3 million, mainly due to longer dwell times and increased storage fees. The transition to automated container transport is progressing well, with new remote-controlled container gantry cranes and hydrogen-powered terminal vehicles being tested. HHLA's sustainability efforts are making good progress, with a significant portion of rail transport being climate-neutral and ongoing modernization efforts at container terminals. The company faced challenges due to geopolitical tensions, including the war in Ukraine, which directly affected operations with a missile attack on the Odesa terminal. Higher personnel expenses, increased energy costs, and additional expenses for purchase services led to a 5.9% decline in EBIT costs compared to the previous year. The logistics segment reported a negative operating result, with vehicle logistics revenue decreasing significantly. Free cash flow for the Port Logistics subgroup was negative at minus EUR100.9 million, largely due to investments in large-scale equipment and rolling stock. Despite a robust liquidity position, the company faced increased trade receivables and other assets, impacting cash flow from operating activities. Q: Can you provide an overview of the challenges HHLA faced in 2024 and how the company responded to them? A: Angela Titzrath, CEO, highlighted that 2024 was marked by geopolitical tensions, including the war in Ukraine and economic slowdowns in China, which created a volatile market environment. Despite these challenges, HHLA demonstrated resilience by increasing container throughput and transport, supported by strategic investments and modernization efforts. Q: How did the Container segment perform in 2024, and what were the key drivers? A: Annette Walter, CFO, reported a slight increase in container throughput by 0.9% to 5.9 million TEU, with strong growth on North and South American routes. Revenue climbed by 9.9% to EUR773.3 million, driven by longer dwell times and increased storage fees. However, EBIT costs rose due to higher personnel and energy expenses. Q: What were the significant developments in the Intermodal segment? A: The Intermodal segment saw an 11.6% rise in container transport to 1,787,000 TEU, with rail transport increasing by 13.2%. The acquisition of a majority stake in Roland Spedition contributed to this growth. Revenue increased by 14.6% to EUR711.3 million, and EBIT rose by 14.8% to EUR83.7 million. Q: How is HHLA advancing its sustainability initiatives? A: Angela Titzrath emphasized HHLA's commitment to sustainability, with significant progress in rail transport and the modernization of the Burchardkai terminal. The company aims for climate-neutral production by 2040, with ongoing efforts to enhance energy efficiency and environmentally friendly operations. Q: What is the outlook for HHLA in 2025? A: Angela Titzrath provided an optimistic outlook, expecting strong growth in container throughput and transport. Revenue and EBIT are projected to increase significantly, with capital expenditure focused on expanding capacity and efficiency in the Container and Intermodal segments. The forecast includes an EBIT range of EUR180 million to EUR220 million. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Wall Street Journal
26-03-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Germany's HHLA Expects Revenue, Earnings to Rise This Year
German transport and logistics provider Hamburger Hafen und Logistik HHFA 0.81%increase; green up pointing triangle expects to report revenue and earnings growth this year on an increase in container transport and demand for port services. The Hamburg terminal operator—known as HHLA—specializes in seaport terminal and port services, as well as container and transport logistics. It said it spent 2024 focusing on strengthening its European network, particularly by increasing the number of rail connections, in addition to further modernizing and automating its container terminals in Hamburg.
