War and Peace at Sea – Maritime Security
“War and Peace at Sea – Maritime Security”: on May 12 and 13, 2026, in Hamburg, high-ranking guests from the worlds of politics, business, and academia will discuss the consequences of geopolitical conflicts for trade, shipping, and global supply chains. The host of the third edition of Hapag-Lloyd’s Albert Ballin Forum is Kühne Logistics University (KLU).
The safety of the world’s oceans is under threat as never before since the end of World War II. The Strait of Hormuz, the maritime lifeline of the global oil and natural gas trade, has become a war zone amid the military escalation in the Middle East—Iran is posing a massive threat to navigation through the strait. A Hapag-Lloyd chartered vessel was struck by projectiles and caught fire. According to the IMO (International Maritime Organization), approximately 20,000 civilian seafarers are stranded on merchant ships in the Persian Gulf.
Threats have reached historic proportions
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine already demonstrated the vulnerability of merchant ships, shipping routes, and maritime infrastructure. Ships must arm themselves against piracy; undersea cables and pipelines are exposed to destructive attacks; ports face the threat of shelling and blockades. Moreover, naval warfare is already being waged in a hybrid manner: AI attacks and cyberattacks on satellite-based communication and positioning systems are the order of the day.
High-Level Analysis and Outlook
Renowned political scientist Prof. Dr. Herfried Münkler will provide context for the current landscape of maritime security. Additional panels will examine the security of merchant ships and shipping routes, as well as current challenges facing shipping companies and ports.
On the evening of May 12, the Albert Ballin Research Awards for Globalization Studies and the Albert Ballin Prize for Global Action will be presented at Hapag-Lloyd’s headquarters.
The closing panel on responsibility for the future of the world’s oceans will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Gordon Wilmsmeier, Director of the Hapag-Lloyd Center for Shipping and Logistics (CSGL) at KLU.
The Hapag-Lloyd Albert Ballin Forum will be held in German. Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. In addition to KLU, other partners include the German Shipowners' Association (VDR), the Museum of Hamburg History, the German Port Museum, and Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna.
Event Details
Albert Ballin Forum 2026 | May 12–13, 2026 | Kühne Logistics University (KLU), Hamburg Campus | Language: German | Free admission, registration required
