1: Economy - Interview with Jan Zeese
Interview with Jan Zeese, Press Officer of Häfen- und Güterverkehr Köln AG (Harbour and Goods Traffic Cologne PLC)
About the HGK - What does the HGK do in Cologne?
The Häfen- und Güterverkehr Köln AG (Harbour and Goods Traffic Cologne PLC) operates four harbours and a railway. The railway comprises a rail network with connections that has its own network and rail system. We operate the railway in Cologne as well all over Europe.
HGK’s relationship with the City of Cologne
Does the HGK network with the City of Cologne and other institutions such as the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Cologne (IHK)?
The City of Cologne owns over 90% of our shares. A small amount belongs to the Rhine-Erft District. We are one of the companies of the Stadtwerke Köln which also belongs to the City of Cologne. The connection is quite close. We are a company that should be work economically, but we should also fulfil overriding purposes, for example, in terms of industry supply and the development of the infrastructure. Other institutions [sic…] – regardless of whether they are associations or the Chamber of Industry and Commerce – everything we do is certainly connected to the public sector. And therefore it is also important to coordinate with other companies as well as with politicians regarding the public interests.
The significance of inland waterway transport for Cologne
How important is the inland waterway transport for Cologne?
I think that Cologne can consider itself very lucky that it is located on the Rhine. This means that it is a logistical hotspot and a centre of inland waterway transport and this is not something recent; on the contrary, this has been the case for 100 years now. Cologne became wealthy as a result of the inland waterway transport on the Rhine. Due to the most important artery in Germany, the Rhine, Cologne remains a vibrant economic metropolis and industrial city. 80% of the German inland waterway transport takes place on the Rhine.
On the development of inland waterway transport
How will inland waterway transport be developed in a Globalizing World and what does this mean for the City of Cologne?
Traffic will increase. Therefore, we should prepare for an increase in freight transport. 1% economic growth translates into 1.5% growth in terms of traffic and this also applies to Cologne. Cologne’s economy is growing and profiting from globalisation. Freight transport is increasing and we are trying to deal with this growth using inland waterway transport. Transfer from street to rail is being demanded politically, but if we are honest, we cannot manage that. The most important objective is that we try to accommodate the growing freight transport as much as possible. To give you an example: traffic experts predict that the truck traffic from Cologne to sea ports will double in the next 20 years. Waterway transport and railways are better alternatives for coping with increasing freight transport.
On the possible benefits of inland waterway transport compared to other transportation means
To what extent is inland waterway transport more advantageous compared to road und railway transportation?
Ships are efficient and reliable. However, they are not fast or flexible and they require ports. After arriving in the port, goods must be transported either by railway or by road. To transport one ton of goods one kilometer, a ship needs around 1.2-1.3 liters of fuel; a truck needs approximately three times more. This means that to transport large amounts of goods with less fuel consumption a ship is still the better solution. The truck is, of course, unbeatable for short distances due to its flexibility and speed. No one is questioning that, but transporting 3000 tons of coal from sea port to the power station by truck is not wise. Inland waterway transport is more suitable.
