The Port of Hamburg has praised the efforts of project logistics firm AXXUM staff for helping to contain the fire which ripped through the facility, badly damaging the company’s own containers.
Several gas explosions were triggered by the fire on 25 August, which caused significant damage to the AXXUM site, and resulted in huge disruption to the area.
As the fire took hold, staff working for AXXUM Packaging Hamburg were quick to react, using a reach stacker to move containers, so that firefighters would have clearer access.
‘Actively supported emergency services’
AXXUM’s expertise lies in packaging and container stuffing, and at the Port of Hamburg it has its own water connection directly on the Müggenburger Kanal, enabling the flexible transport of heavy cargo and special equipment by barge.
The port authority said the efforts of staff there had ‘actively supported the emergency services’, helping the firefighters to tackle and secure the site.
Explosions from the gas cylinders left craters in the ground at AXXUM’s facility, with damage also caused to surrounding buildings. After a major clean-up operations, the port authority said that deliveries and collections at the facility were due to start again this week.
“The incident once again underlines the importance of well-defined procedures and emergency plans in port and logistics operations, ensuring that operational disruptions were kept to a minimum,” said the port authority.
