Overview
- In a five-page letter, Christoph Ploß accused Mayor Peter Tschentscher of spreading "Unschärfen" and "Unwahrheiten" about his role on seaport policy.
- Ploß said the Basic Law leaves administration and financing of the Port of Hamburg to the city, whereas federal competence covers high-sea and coastal shipping, navigation markers, and federal waterways.
- He noted Hamburg received €2.66 billion in 2025 from a federal infrastructure special fund and urged spending it on port infrastructure rather than "prestige objects like the Elbtower."
- Ploß called the current Hafenlastenausgleich of €38.3 million a year too low but said any significant increase would require a two‑thirds constitutional majority in the Bundestag.
- He invited Tschentscher to the National Maritime Conference on April 29–30 in Emden to discuss solutions, as a Hamburg Senate spokesperson countered that the city already spends about €300 million annually on the port and pointed to federal coalition pledges for joint financing.