Maritime Talent Day 2025

The Maritime Talent Day marks another important milestone in the pilot area Hamburg  of the Connected River project. 

Following the successful validation of the Discovery.Hamburg scavenger hunt, the establishment of this major event has created an important touch point with the HR community in Hamburg's maritime and logistics industry and with interested school and university students. This anchor event is intended to establish an annual format for young professionals & students in Hamburg that brings the community together in a contemporary and interactive way, while also positioning and raising awareness of the Discovery.Hamburg tour as a helpful product to attract young maritime talents and the attractiveness of port cities with regard to career opportunities.

The event began at the Digital Hub Logistics & Commerce, where participants received an introduction to the program. After a welcome address by Miriam von Woedtke, Head of the Shipping Division at the Ministry of Economics, Labor, and Innovation, Aileen Schmuck (Digital Hub Logistics & Commerce) and Marius Eschen (HPA) opened the Maritime Talent Day by highlighting the shortage of skilled workers and the great need for transformation in an exciting industry ecosystem. 

The aim of this event is to leave a lively and lasting impression on participants through genuine encounters and networking. Hubert Neubacher, managing director and owner of Barkassen-Meyer, gave an exciting and personal keynote speech that took participants on a first-hand tour of the port.

Discovery.Hamburg Tour

As part of the Discovery.Hamburg Tour, participants visited key institutions such as the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and CMA CGM, gaining direct exposure to port infrastructure, logistics processes, and future-oriented maritime technologies.

Discovery Pitches

In parallel, a series of concise 10-minute presentations, the Discovery Pitches, were held. Companies such as AIDA Cruises, Kongsberg Maritime, EMR, Hapag-Lloyd AG, and NautilusLog showcased diverse career paths and highlighted the importance of innovation and sustainability in the maritime sector.

Strategic Context: Connected River Project

The Maritime Talent Day 2025 was conducted as part of the Connected River Project.

The pilot in Hamburg is coordinated by homePORT Hamburg, with active contributions from the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and the Logistics Initiative Hamburg. The Discovery.Hamburg Tour is a pilot format within the Connected River framework. It aims to connect emerging talent with companies from the maritime and logistics sector and address workforce challenges through experiential learning. 

Additionally, we are trying to build a community and 'coalition of the willing' to transform the way we currently work within our ecosystems. The Team is also working to enhance the HPA's appeal as an employer through various initiatives, what we archieve particularly with the Maritime Talent Day and Discovery Hamburg.