by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interview: Alessia Rosolen, FVG councilor for education, labor, and research; Alexandru Godin, chief operating officer (COO) of HHLA PLT Italy
HHLA PLT Italy, a key logistics and port operator based in Trieste, has announced a new recruiting initiative as part of its continued expansion at one of the Adriatic’s most strategically positioned ports. The company will host a recruiting day in Trieste on February 12, with applications open until February 1.
The initiative was presented to the press on Thursday by regional and company officials, who framed the hiring effort as part of a broader transformation of Trieste’s logistics infrastructure and its role in European trade corridors.
HHLA PLT Italy is part of the Hamburg-based HHLA Group, one of Europe’s leading logistics and transport operators, active across the continent through seaport and inland terminals, rail connections and intermodal solutions. In Trieste, the company operates within the port’s Free Zone, a location that allows it to link maritime traffic from the Mediterranean—particularly the Adriatic Sea—with rail and road routes toward Central and Eastern Europe.
According to Alessia Rosolen, the regional councillor for labor, education and research, the company’s growth reflects the strategic importance of the Trieste logistics platform, both for container handling and for high-speed rail connections. Speaking at the presentation, Ms. Rosolen said that HHLA PLT Italy had already hired 195 people in recent years, with a net employment increase of 136 positions.
“HHLA PLT Italy is giving concrete form to a strategic project for the territory,” she said, referring to the logistics platform. She added that the region intends to support the company’s development through co-designed training initiatives and innovative educational pathways within the regional ITS (Higher Technical Institutes) system.
The company is now seeking to hire 56 additional workers. The positions include 40 polyvalent port operators, four control room operators, four staff members for the management of operational equipment and eight operational assistants.
Company officials also highlighted the composition of the current workforce. Ms. Rosolen noted that HHLA PLT Italy has emphasized stable employment contracts and has paid particular attention to younger workers and women. Women currently make up about 25 percent of the workforce. Among recent hires, 38 percent are between 20 and 30 years old, while 31.3 percent fall within the 31-to-40 age range.
Alex Godin, the company’s chief operating officer, said that HHLA’s international network allows the Trieste terminal to integrate maritime, rail and road transport efficiently, ensuring daily operations that meet safety and reliability standards. He emphasized the port’s geographic position as a competitive advantage in serving markets beyond Italy.
The company’s recent growth has been significant. In 2025, HHLA PLT Italy increased its workforce by 40 percent, rising from 146 employees to 204 by the end of the year, with steady hiring throughout the period. Current projections indicate that the number of employees could reach 292 in 2026.
Beyond the immediate recruitment effort, the company’s longer-term plans are tied to one of the most ambitious port redevelopment projects in Europe. Central to this vision is the redevelopment of the former Servola ironworks site, an area that for more than a century was home to heavy industry and was long associated with environmental pollution.
Through a permanent environmental remediation project, the site is being transformed into a symbol of urban and industrial regeneration. The 180-hectare area is set to host a major expansion of port infrastructure, including the construction of the new Molo VIII terminal, a next-generation multipurpose container facility.
The terminal is designed to operate with a high level of technological integration, with an emphasis on safety, efficiency and sustainability. According to estimates presented at the event, the project could generate up to 2,000 jobs when direct and indirect employment are taken into account, significantly reshaping the local labor market.
For now, the focus remains on the upcoming recruiting day. Candidates interested in participating must submit their curriculum vitae by Sunday, February 1, using the following link:
https://bit.ly/RAFVG2026_RD_HHLAPLT
