[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ module_class=”reverse-columns-mobile” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||15px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]Credits: Landeskommando Bremen der Bundeswehr, Rhenus Logistics [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Oberst-Thomas-Gessner_500px.png” alt=”Portrait of of Colonel Thomas Ge\u00dfner” title_text=”Portrait of of Colonel Thomas Ge\u00dfner” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ header_3_text_color=”#002e5b” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||40px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Colonel Thomas Ge\u00dfner, <\/strong>Commander of the Bundeswehr\u2019s Regional Territorial Command Bremen<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]LOGISTICS PILOT: How dangerous do you consider the current situation to be? LOGISTICS PILOT: What does the Operational Plan for Germany mean for German seaports against this backdrop? Uwe Oppitz, <\/strong>Group Managing Director Rhenus Ports<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]LOGISTICS PILOT: How will the Bundeswehr and industry have to collaborate to ensure the OPLAN DEU will work? LOGISTICS PILOT: What makes north-western Germany so important for operational planning? Colonel Thomas Ge\u00dfner, Commander of the Bundeswehr\u2019s Regional Territorial Command Bremen, and Uwe Oppitz, Group Managing Director of Rhenus Ports, consider the current situation in the \u201cKey Region North-West\u201d through the lens of the Operational Plan for Germany (OPLAN DEU), a classified strategic Bundeswehr document that governs Germany\u2019s defence in the event of an alliance contingency and crisis situation. In other words, analysis of the status quo from a military and civilian point of view.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":71180,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[297],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-point-of-view-en"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nColonel Ge\u00dfner: <\/strong>The current situation is serious! We\u2019re threatened and essentially attacked on a daily basis! Russia has brought an armed conflict to Europe with its unlawful war of aggression against Ukraine. You can no longer talk about peace in Central Europe. Whilst we may not yet find ourselves in open conflict, Germany is already facing hybrid attacks from adversarial actors \u2013 disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, espionage and sabotage \u2013 the perpetrators of which are usually difficult to define.
Oppitz: <\/strong>I\u2019m alarmed by the current situation in the world. Over and over again, we\u2019re confronted with the fact that we live in a world in which nations like Russia, North Korea and the US have broken with established norms and are making a mockery of important values. This is something I encounter not only daily in the media, but also with colleagues based in Iran, Oman and Dubai, who can no longer communicate freely \u2013 in part because channels like WhatsApp and the Internet are blocked. I have the feeling that German society and politics are not yet in a position to effectively adapt their mindset to the current situation. And that\u2019s despite the fact that it\u2019s already \u201cfive past twelve\u201d.<\/p>\n
\nColonel Ge\u00dfner: <\/strong>The OPLAN DEU is the core element of the military side of Germany\u2019s comprehensive defence. This plan brings together the central military elements of territorial and alliance defence in Germany and the required civilian support services, with the aim of ensuring targeted action in the event of a crisis and conflict scenario. Given its central location in Europe, Germany plays a critical role as a logistics hub for troop deployment in ensuring credible deterrence and effective defence. We need to guarantee the \u201ccontinuity of advance\u201d as well as protect and supply our allies abroad. German seaports in the North Sea are essential, particularly when it comes to transporting materials to NATO\u2019s eastern flank, as they ensure our access to the Atlantic Ocean.
Oppitz: <\/strong>The ports in Lower Saxony are already well positioned. Nevertheless, I\u2019m certain that requirements will increase dramatically. Especially if the alliance contingency or state of defence were to be triggered, in which case the ports would increasingly serve as logistical hubs for the handling of troops and heavy military equipment. But for that to happen, additional spaces, facilities and measures for drone defence and sabotage prevention would need to be established \u2013 and then there are the challenges that would arise in heavy load approval for RoRo ramps and cranes. But because the ports have recently been classified as critical infrastructure, the government is investing heavily in their infrastructure and expansion as military logistics hubs, with 1.35 billion euros going to Bremerhaven alone.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_7″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Startseite \/ Artikel” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ prev_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.23.1″ background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(0,58,124,0.13) 0%|#ffffff 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(0,58,124,0.13)” background_color_gradient_end=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” top_divider_style=”waves2″ top_divider_height=”55px” top_divider_flip=”horizontal” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_padding=”114px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Uwe-Oppitz_500px.png” alt=”Portrait of Uwe Oppitz” title_text=”Portrait of Uwe Oppitz” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ custom_margin=”-50px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ header_3_text_color=”#002e5b” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||40px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n\u201cAdditional spaces, facilities and measures for drone defence need to be established.\u201d<\/h3>\n
\nColonel Ge\u00dfner: <\/strong>The OPLAN DEU manages quick deployment and the supply of allied and domestic forces in crisis and war. In accordance with NATO planning, several hundred thousand soldiers will need to receive logistical and medical support and protection under enormous time pressure. The resilience of both our military and society as a whole is an essential component of NATO deterrence planning and requires close collaboration between industry and the Bundeswehr. The seaports in the North Sea, in particular, will face enormous logistical challenges that can only be overcome with intact, well-functioning port infrastructure and other types of infrastructure.
Oppitz: <\/strong>The security policy dialogue between the Bundeswehr and the port companies is already progressing at a good pace. In fact, recent years have seen intensive exchange across multiple levels for that purpose alone. For example, Regional Territorial Command Lower Saxony regularly visits ports in Lower Saxony to discuss equipment with the operators and get a picture of current developments on site. Exchanges of viewpoints between the Bundeswehr, businesses and science were also high on the agenda at the LOG.NET trade fair in Koblenz this past March \u2013 with a primary focus on military logistics solutions, digitalisation and resilience. These and other channels also provide Berlin with a clear picture of port capacity and potential road, waterway and rail connections. <\/p>\n
\nColonel Ge\u00dfner: <\/strong>I like to refer to the \u201cKey Region North-West\u201d as a central deployment region. It plays a very important role for the OPLAN DEU. Experienced operators in this region support the handling of military vehicles and personnel. Good and, wherever possible, redundant connections to the road and rail network as well as access to medical facilities are essential.
Oppitz: <\/strong>Because we have lots of well-functioning ports between Emden and Cuxhaven, where the transshipment of military equipment has been standard practice for years. This also applies to the use of Class 1 dangerous goods \u2013 in other words, explosive materials. I can\u2019t and won\u2019t say any more than that, as there are simply some things you don\u2019t talk about in public. (Editor\u2019s note: And he adds with a wink) After all, we don\u2019t want to deny Putin and his secret services their work. (bre)<\/em>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"