Port of Hamburg calls for change in laws

The FAC has further delayed plans to dredge the navigation channel of the River Elbe to allow bigger ships to call at the Port of Hamburg. The Court made the decision to defer dredging after emergency petitions against the planning approval were made. The Business Association is now calling for fast legal decisions to be made and says an overhaul of planning law is needed if expansion of infrastructure for the renewable energy industry is to be achieved.

Gunther Bonz, president Port of Hamburg Business Association, said: “The Hamburg port business community understands that the measure should be carefully scrutinised by the Federal Administrative Court. Yet the main consideration now is that a decision is taken on the matter rapidly.”

He added: “A state under the rule of law is also notable for reaching essential decisions swiftly. With its judgments on the European Fiscal Pact and on measures to stabilise the euro, the Federal Constitutional Court has proved that this is possible.”