on achievable success
“HPC’s strength lies not just in our knowledge of technology and processes, but also in our experience acquired from real terminal operations.”
Nils Kemme, Managing Director and Partner at HPC
When a company reaches the age of 50, it means that its many different stories have resulted in a tradition. People play the main role in these stories, even if they are not named. Consultants who have delivered impressive results again and again despite adventurous working conditions at times. Numerous experts with practical experience – for example, in warehousing software and port technology, in rail transport, inland waterway shipping and airports. And, of course, business people, project teams and directors who have continually adapted HPC’s strategy to the changing technological, economic and political environment.
HPC’s experts engage in discussions at many different international conferences, such as Sven Daniels (right) here at the largest trade fair, Breakbulk Europe 2026.
The consultancy, which was established in 1976, is called Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC). At this time, it was one of the first subsidiaries of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and began to expand its business activities beyond the Elbe region. Today, HPC assists port and rail companies, logistics firms and software providers globally. More than 2,000 projects in 136 countries and 713 cities have been completed.
Within its first year, the managing directors – Dr. Wilfried Schmidt-Pathmann and the future CEO of HHLA Peter Dietrich – proudly stated that the company had “a range of very interesting contracts: With an ever-growing team, we advise the central port authority for all the ports in Saudi Arabia and have begun a major project in Nigeria.” More precisely, this means: “We advise the local management on organising and operating the facility, procuring the necessary equipment and training staff at all levels.”
The CEO of HHLA at the time, Helmuth Kern (left), established HPC in 1976 and made Peter Dietrich one of its two managing directors. Dietrich went on to become CEO of HHLA from 1991 to 2003.
Training became an important area, resulting in the establishment of the Hamburg Port Training Institute (HPTI) as a subsidiary of HPC in 1981. It focuses on customised training programmes in the area of port operations, logistics and transport. Another subsidiary, UNICONSULT Universal Transport Consulting, was founded in order to strengthen expertise in hinterland transport and logistics consulting. In 2017, both companies became part of the HPC brand, which offered solutions not just between ports and their hinterland but also in the area of aviation, for example.
Gunter Klatt (second from right) visits the port authority for Conakry (Guinea) as managing director of HPC in 1999.
Port authorities were always part of the biggest customer group, many of them from Africa and Europa, and soon also from Latin America and Asia. They were joined by forwarding and shipping companies, and in 1989 the first rail project was initiated for Deutsche Eisenbahn Consult. The company quickly expanded its expertise to include intermodal transport solutions, which turned out to be one of the most important consultancy areas.
However, it maintained a very strong connection with its fast-growing parent company. HPC played a central role in the planning and construction of HHLA Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA). The greenfield project was extremely ambitious, both technologically and in terms of its tight timeline. Within a few short years, one of the first fully automated terminals in the world was completed in 2002.
Experts from HPC assisted HHLA in constructing the world’s most modern container terminal in Hamburg-Altenwerder (still in the construction preparation phase here).
CTA was long regarded globally as state-of-the-art. Many customers liked looking at it up close, so HPC relocated to offices at the terminal. Much of HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB) was also upgraded with the assistance of HPC. The Integrated Terminal Control System (ITS) went live there in 2010, improving the management and coordination of processes at the terminal. This became a particular area of expertise for HPC: When terminals are looking for new operating systems, HPC assists with the process – from specification to the commencement of operations.
The company also developed its own IT products, such as the Container Terminal Information System (CTIS), which has been implemented by a dozen terminals worldwide. At the same time, HPC introduced the Block Train Operations System (BTOS) for intermodal terminals. This was followed by simulation studies that helped to analyse and optimise terminal and gate processes initially, and then later general logistics processes, too.
Simulation developed by HPC of a fully automated terminal in Melbourne.
Today, specialised HPC teams offer data science for many areas of application. Software and AI tools developed in-house make it easier to perform the time-consuming processes of gathering material, evaluating statistics and comparing different models in particular. Experts continue to be in control here of course, managing the tools and assessing the results.
This approach is unique within the industry. “We delve right down, but at the same time we are broadly positioned globally and have highly specialised IT assistance available to us,” says Christina Prieser, who is in charge of Asia and the Pacific as Vice President. As an economist, she represents the commercial expertise that is part of many projects.
Christina Prieser
Vice President in charge of Asia and the Pacific
The strategic assistance provided to the management of port facilities is among the most frequently requested services of HPC. These include market analyses, feasibility studies and master plans. HPC has also been very successful in the interim takeover of terminal operations, be it in Conakry in Africa, Cartagena in South America or many Eastern European countries. The most important and one of the most extensive engagements was the development of the “HPC Ukraina” container terminal, which began in 2000. Following the successful transformation, Container Terminal Odessa (CTO) is part of the HHLA Group today.
The “HPC Ukraina” container terminal became HHLA Container Terminal Odessa.
Ports and logistics as well as infrastructure and technology have changed in the 50 years since HPC was established. Continuous technological disruptions have been integrated, while automation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence must be integrated into existing structures, including while operations continue. And that is exactly what HPC’s activities entail. Customers receive effective consultation, increase their productivity and performance, improve their competitiveness, and are connected more effectively to their hinterland and the global market.
HPC does not just adapt to changes, but rather it drives them in joint projects with its customers. In his article, Managing Director Patrick Krawutschke explains how the 50-year-old company ensures it remains relevant in the market.
Nils Kemme
Managing Director and Partner at HPC
Customers continue to turn to HPC when their operating reality becomes complex and advances need to be implemented in practice. The reason for this is clear to Nils Kemme, Managing Director and Partner at HPC:
“HPC’s strength lies not just in our knowledge of technology and processes, but also in our experience acquired from real terminal operations. We concentrate on achievable successes!”
“HPC’s strength lies not just in our knowledge of technology and processes, but also in our experience acquired from real terminal operations. We concentrate on achievable successes!”
Customers continue to turn to HPC when their operating reality becomes complex and advances need to be implemented in practice. The reason for this is clear to Nils Kemme, Managing Director and Partner at HPC:
Nils Kemme
Managing Director and Partner at HPC
HPC does not just adapt to changes, but rather it drives them in joint projects with its customers. In his article, Managing Director Patrick Krawutschke explains how the 50-year-old company ensures it remains relevant in the market.
Ports and logistics as well as infrastructure and technology have changed in the 50 years since HPC was established. Continuous technological disruptions have been integrated, while automation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence must be integrated into existing structures, including while operations continue. And that is exactly what HPC’s activities entail. Customers receive effective consultation, increase their productivity and performance, improve their competitiveness, and are connected more effectively to their hinterland and the global market.
The “HPC Ukraina” container terminal became HHLA Container Terminal Odessa.
The strategic assistance provided to the management of port facilities is among the most frequently requested services of HPC. These include market analyses, feasibility studies and master plans. HPC has also been very successful in the interim takeover of terminal operations, be it in Conakry in Africa, Cartagena in South America or many Eastern European countries. The most important and one of the most extensive engagements was the development of the “HPC Ukraina” container terminal, which began in 2000. Following the successful transformation, Container Terminal Odessa (CTO) is part of the HHLA Group today.
Christina Prieser
Vice President in charge of Asia and the Pacific
This approach is unique within the industry. “We delve right down, but at the same time we are broadly positioned globally and have highly specialised IT assistance available to us,” says Christina Prieser, who is in charge of Asia and the Pacific as Vice President. As an economist, she represents the commercial expertise that is part of many projects.
Today, specialised HPC teams offer data science for many areas of application. Software and AI tools developed in-house make it easier to perform the time-consuming processes of gathering material, evaluating statistics and comparing different models in particular. Experts continue to be in control here of course, managing the tools and assessing the results.
Simulation developed by HPC of a fully automated terminal in Melbourne.
The company also developed its own IT products, such as the Container Terminal Information System (CTIS), which has been implemented by a dozen terminals worldwide. At the same time, HPC introduced the Block Train Operations System (BTOS) for intermodal terminals. This was followed by simulation studies that helped to analyse and optimise terminal and gate processes initially, and then later general logistics processes, too.
CTA was long regarded globally as state-of-the-art. Many customers liked looking at it up close, so HPC relocated to offices at the terminal. Much of HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB) was also upgraded with the assistance of HPC. The Integrated Terminal Control System (ITS) went live there in 2010, improving the management and coordination of processes at the terminal. This became a particular area of expertise for HPC: When terminals are looking for new operating systems, HPC assists with the process – from specification to the commencement of operations.
Experts from HPC assisted HHLA in constructing the world’s most modern container terminal in Hamburg-Altenwerder (still in the construction preparation phase here).
However, it maintained a very strong connection with its fast-growing parent company. HPC played a central role in the planning and construction of HHLA Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA). The greenfield project was extremely ambitious, both technologically and in terms of its tight timeline. Within a few short years, one of the first fully automated terminals in the world was completed in 2002.
Port authorities were always part of the biggest customer group, many of them from Africa and Europa, and soon also from Latin America and Asia. They were joined by forwarding and shipping companies, and in 1989 the first rail project was initiated for Deutsche Eisenbahn Consult. The company quickly expanded its expertise to include intermodal transport solutions, which turned out to be one of the most important consultancy areas.
Gunter Klatt (second from right) visits the port authority for Conakry (Guinea) as managing director of HPC in 1999.
Training became an important area, resulting in the establishment of the Hamburg Port Training Institute (HPTI) as a subsidiary of HPC in 1981. It focuses on customised training programmes in the area of port operations, logistics and transport. Another subsidiary, UNICONSULT Universal Transport Consulting, was founded in order to strengthen expertise in hinterland transport and logistics consulting. In 2017, both companies became part of the HPC brand, which offered solutions not just between ports and their hinterland but also in the area of aviation, for example.
The CEO of HHLA at the time, Helmuth Kern (left), established HPC in 1976 and made Peter Dietrich one of its two managing directors. Dietrich went on to become CEO of HHLA from 1991 to 2003.
Within its first year, the managing directors – Dr. Wilfried Schmidt-Pathmann and the future CEO of HHLA Peter Dietrich – proudly stated that the company had “a range of very interesting contracts: With an ever-growing team, we advise the central port authority for all the ports in Saudi Arabia and have begun a major project in Nigeria.” More precisely, this means: “We advise the local management on organising and operating the facility, procuring the necessary equipment and training staff at all levels.”
The consultancy, which was established in 1976, is called Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC). At this time, it was one of the first subsidiaries of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and began to expand its business activities beyond the Elbe region. Today, HPC assists port and rail companies, logistics firms and software providers globally. More than 2,000 projects in 136 countries and 713 cities have been completed.
HPC’s experts engage in discussions at many different international conferences, such as Sven Daniels (right) here at the largest trade fair, Breakbulk Europe 2026.
When a company reaches the age of 50, it means that its many different stories have resulted in a tradition. People play the main role in these stories, even if they are not named. Consultants who have delivered impressive results again and again despite adventurous working conditions at times. Numerous experts with practical experience – for example, in warehousing software and port technology, in rail transport, inland waterway shipping and airports. And, of course, business people, project teams and directors who have continually adapted HPC’s strategy to the changing technological, economic and political environment.
“HPC’s strength lies not just in our knowledge of technology and processes, but also in our experience acquired from real terminal operations.”
Nils Kemme, Managing Director and Partner at HPC