More than 35 years at the port
The employees tell their tale: “We stick around.”
“Once you’re hired, you're caught in the net.” That’s the running joke among employees at Port of Hirtshals, and there may be something to it. The latest insight into the organisation shows that the average length of service among employees exceeds 11 years. And in one department, the average is as high as 21 years.
Almost four years ago, a new CEO took office at Port of Hirtshals. Per Anholm Nørgaard was quickly impressed by the strong sense of community that characterises the Danish port. One thing in particular stood out: at a time when many companies struggle with high staff turnover, employees at Port of Hirtshals choose to stay, often for several decades.
- Most of the employees here at the port have followed each other through many stages of life. That creates a truly unique sense of togetherness, says Per Anholm Nørgaard, and continues:
- I am proud to be part of a workplace where loyalty is one of the defining characteristics. There are invaluable skills and experience here in-house, built up over many years, and my colleagues and I benefit from drawing on them every single day. It is a strength that makes the employees at Port of Hirtshals truly special.
The road to 35 years on the job
The 30 employees at Port of Hirtshals have an average length of service of more than 11 years, but this is not a sign of stagnation within the organisation. Over the past three years, nine new employees have joined, which reflects the port’s continued growth.
However, one team stands out within the organisation. The seven colleagues in the Port Operations team — the port’s central emergency response and operational unit for ship traffic — have an average length of service of over 21 years.
In 2025, one of the colleagues of Port of Hirtshals, Dennis P. Lauritsen, approached his 35th year in Port Operations.
- If you had asked me when I started in Port Operations as a lad, I probably wouldn’t have thought I’d stay here for so long, says Dennis, and continues: - But we have a truly unique sense of unity here at the port, and a good bucketful of humour and good spirits. Maybe those are the ingredients that have kept me caught like a fish in the net.
Anniversaries one after another
With longer periods of employment, anniversaries are not a rare occurrence at Port of Hirtshals. 2025 brought many congratulations to colleagues who reached 10, 15, 20 and 35 years at the port. In 2026, Port of Hirtshals takes it one step further, when one of the port’s colleagues reaches 40 years seniority.
Peter Ydesen, Head of Technical Projects at Port of Hirtshals, also had the pleasure of reaching 35 years at the port in 2025, and reflects with joy on his time:
- There is something special about our collegial spirit. The 35 years here at the port have brought development both personally and professionally, and I am proud to still be part of the team, says Peter, and continues:
- Here at Port of Hirtshals, it doesn’t matter whether you are young or old, new or experienced — you are seen for who you are — and even after 35 years, I can still be surprised by the curiosity we show towards one another as colleagues. It is still a pleasure to go to work, even after just under 13,000 days.
Facts about lenght of service at Port of Hirtshals:
- Number of employees at Port of Hirtshals: 30
- Average length of service (all employees): 11 years
- Average length of service (Port Operations): 21 years