It has only been a little over six months since I last sat with Director Jesper Pedersen. In addition to the ship floor and the harbor view, everything has changed in the office of the second-generation owner of Hanstholm Skibssmedie. Everything is completely new and has a state-of-the-art interior.
It is not only the office that has been subjected to change, because the Port of Hanstholm has been through a lot of upheaval. First, the former top politician Kristian Jensen became chairman of the Port of Hanstholm and after only a week he resigned from the post. A position as CEO of Greenpower Denmark was more attractive and incompatible with the chairmanship. That was only the beginning of the misfortunes, because in the same spring, the port's director Nils Skeby announced his resignation.
Last but not least, the newly appointed chairman of the port, Michael Svane, was able to report a deficit of no less than 17.6 million. DKK in 2021 in addition to the debt from the port expansion of DKK 630 million. The decline in fishing and Brexit were to blame for the deficit.
- The only thing we must not do now is start saving, then it will go completely wrong, says Jesper Pedersen on the phone when we arrange the interview.
That attitude has not changed a few days later in the director's office, but something has happened anyway.
- I am probably more optimistic now than I just expressed, says Jesper Pedersen with good reason.
- I have had a dialogue with a large foreign investor who sees great opportunities here. But that requires us to invest money ourselves first. It costs money to make money, and I see many opportunities for development because of our location, says Jesper Pedersen.
The unfortunate spring
The misfortunes that have rained down on the port throughout the spring are also important to understanding Jesper Pedersen's optimism. It actually started with something good, when the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance Kristian Jensen became chairman of the port.
- First Kristian Jensen came, and we were flying. A week later we were at a meeting in the fishing association when we received the message that he had resigned. We were all a bit confused, because now everything had fallen together again, says Jesper Pedersen, who does not blame Kristian Jensen for the decision.
But when Nils Skeby then quit, there were even more confused faces.
- It is not an overnight process to change the director. We are committed to good cooperation with the port director, but we cannot continue to tolerate changes, says Jesper Pedersen, who already warned last year: We must hold on to the port director!
At that time, the port had had no less than six different directors in eight years.
Before and after Nils Skeby
Nils Skeby had lived in Middelfart throughout his employment. The reason for quitting was that he had only promised to stay in the position for two years, and they had gone and fulfilled their promise.
Although Jesper Pedersen is upset about Nils Skeby's departure, he has nothing but praise for the now former director.
- I have deep respect for the man and what he has done for the port. Nils has done a really good job for the port together with the board, says Jesper Pedersen.
Nils Skeby has started a port council and a dialogue with the citizens of Hanstholm. At the same time, plans have been made for an energy cluster with PtX, which has resulted in a letter of intent with European Energy. Nils Skeby currently works as a consultant in Middelfart.
- Nils has started a lot of good projects, and now the direction has been set, so we are in a much better position today than before, says Jesper Pedersen and elaborates.
- It used to be that we sat around pointing fingers at each other, it's not like that anymore. It is to Nils' credit that the port's management, the board, us users and the municipality work together. It is a symbiotic relationship where everyone only wants the best for the port. But it is important that this cooperation continues. It is a shame that we have not had that dialogue years ago, says Jesper Pedersen.
We must invest – not save
He has also already had his first meeting with the new chairman of the board Michael Svane.
- It is my opinion that he knows very well that you cannot save yourself from it. We have a port, it has only played on one horse, and that is the fishing industry. We are trapped in a situation where there is less income because the fishing industry is doing poorly. That is why it is important that we are ready to invest, otherwise there will be a standstill. And it is ultimately the citizens' money, says Jesper Pedersen about the port's debt in the municipally owned port.
He is also in no doubt about what to focus on.
- We need to bet on several horses now. I see good opportunities for both CCS and PtX here at the port, but at the same time we need to develop the fishing industry further. The city and the port are naturally separated, and that means we have many opportunities, says Jesper Pedersen and returns to the most important thing.
- The municipality will have to accept that it cannot save money on this. We need money to get peace of mind. It costs money to make money, and of course we are also willing to put our hands on the stove for the good of the port, says Jesper Pedersen.
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