The Chairman of the Group Management Board of EUROGATE, MICHAEL BLACH, takes the club! questionnaire and highlights the city’s special role as an international port.
THE GATEKEEPER
- What makes working in a foreign country attractive for you?
“Learning new customs, new people and other ways of living. The excitement and adventure of being away from home. Visiting a new country is one thing, but to get a feel for the country you have to live there..“ - Are there any differences between working life in Germany and in your home country?
“As a Dane, you don’t have to work in Germany for a long time to observe that the tone and how you go about addressing your colleagues is more formal than it is in Denmark. It is not that one is better than the other, they’re just quite different. The use of humour at the workplace is typically also a bit rarer in Germany. Danish humour comes very close to British humour and differs considerably from that typically seen in Germany. Again, one is not necessarily better than the other, just different.“ - Which market changes and challenges have your company faced in the past five years and which do you anticipate for the next few years?
“One of the most important challenges in the past five years was the corona pandemic. We had to strive to keep our operations running at all times to ensure the flow of global trade – while also making sure that our staff were well protected from the virus. As the world had not been in a similar situation for about 100 years, the various reactions to the pandemic caused trade volumes and the liner capacity on offer to fluctuate significantly between 2020 and 2022. To provide high-quality terminal service under those circumstances was a challenge. For the coming five years we will have to accelerate digitalisation and automation of our operations while providing uninterrupted, high-quality service to our customers. This will most certainly be our foremost challenge.“ - How many people work for your company in Hamburg, Germany and worldwide?
“In Hamburg approx. 1557 people work for us, in Germany 4781 people and worldwide about 1.000 people. In the second quarter of 2025 we are opening a new terminal in Damietta in Egypt, where we will employ roughly 1000 people. In the short term the number of employees will increase slightly. Medium term we expect a continued moderate growth, however any need for additional staff will be countered by increased productivity at our terminals. In the longer term we expect the number of employees to decrease somewhat as a result of a continuous and accelerated level of digitisation and automation of our operations.“ - Apart from Hamburg, which are your three favourite cities worldwide?
“I really could not say. I have lived in large cities in Europe, Asia and the USA, all very different. I always try to make the best of what each city has to offer.“ - You have one wish. What do you wish for?
“Many believe that our times are fraught with war, yet in a historical perspective we have never been safer. Nonetheless, I would wish for more peace!“ - What was the last business achievement that still makes you proud?
“Managing to maintain high quality operations during the pandemic. Also the launch of a transformation programme at the end of 2019, an improvement effort that is an essential part of our company fabric. We have increased operational efficiency and cut 5% of our total cost base in Germany.“ - What drives your business success?
“We work with a small number of large customers and we aim for a customer portfolio that is as diversified as possible. In terms of terminal operations you have to be at the right locations, and the timing of investments and new developments can be quite crucial. Otherwise efficiency, flexibility and dependability are key. At all times you should remain in constant and close contact with your customers.“ - Which characteristic do you value most in your employees?
“Loyalty, flexibility and the ability to work as a team!“ - Which developments will influence your growth?
“Digitisation, automation and the increased use of AI to optimise container terminal operations will play an increasingly large role in the years to come.“ - What did you want to become when you were a child?
“According to my mother, when I was 2-3 years old I really wanted to be a garbage man. As a teenager I wanted to become a fighter pilot, but my eyesight wasn’t good enough. I then focused on international shipping because it would give me a chance to travel and see the world.“ - How was 2024 for your company and is there one main objective you want to reach in 2024/2025?
“For 2024 we had expected a year with continued low volumes and moderate financial results. Instead, we saw a good recovery and accelerated growth. The crisis in the Red Sea brought significant disturbance to the networks of the big container carriers. As a consequence, as a container terminal operator we had more work. In sum, we will end up with good financial result for the year. 2025 will start with a major restructuring of most of the liner consortia. Our aim is to come out of this restructuring process with an improved portfolio of business, while at the same time serving our customers well.“ - What’s your favourite restaurant in Hamburg?
“Henssler and Henssler – and some of the restaurants at Tortue.“ - Where do you consider home?
”Wherever I hang my hat is my home! Joking aside, while I have felt good at all the places I have had the privilege to live, home remains Denmark, where I was born, with Germany a very close second.” - Why is Hamburg a good location for your company?
”For container operations Hamburg has several unique benefits. With a trading tradition going back many centuries, there is a very large and capable port and trading community. Many containers unloaded here will end up in or around Hamburg. For the containers destined for further away there is an unprecedented choice of rail connections, not only within Germany but also eastern Europe and elsewhere. While the geographical position of Hamburg provides several benefits, there are also drawbacks. The nautical restrictions of the River Elbe are not insignificant, large scale container operations in the middle of city of 2 million are not always without a challenge, meaning that the cost of operations is somewhat over par.”
MICHAEL BLACH
Michael Blach started his global career at the MAERSK Group in 1984. In 2008, he was appointed Vice President Key Client at the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group. In 2013, he moved to BLG Logistics in Bremen, and in 2017 was appointed Chairman of the Group Management Board of EUROGATE.