Privacy Policy

This is a translation for your convenience. The German version of the privacy policy is legally binding.

We take the protection of your personal data seriously. In accordance with Art. 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we explain below which personal data we process when you visit this website or contact us.

1. Controller

HM Global Logistics GmbH
Spaldingstr. 210
20097 Hamburg
Germany
Managing Director: Claas Reiche
Phone: +49 40 334636661
Email: info@hmgl.de

Our company is not legally required to appoint a data protection officer. If you have any questions about data protection, please use the contact details above.

2. Hosting and server log files

This website is hosted by STRATO GmbH, Otto-Ostrowski-Straße 7, 10249 Berlin, Germany. We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider pursuant to Art. 28 GDPR.

When you visit our website, information transmitted by your browser is recorded automatically: IP address, date and time of access, page requested, referrer URL, browser and operating system. This data is technically necessary to deliver the website and to ensure its security and stability. The legal basis is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR; our legitimate interest lies in the secure and error-free operation of the website. Log files are stored only for as long as necessary for these purposes and then deleted.

3. Cookies

We only use technically necessary cookies, for example a security token that prevents misuse when forms are submitted. These cookies are strictly necessary for the operation of the website (Section 25 (2) no. 2 TDDDG, Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) and are deleted when you close your browser or after a short time. We do not use analytics, marketing or tracking cookies.

4. Contact form, enquiry forms and email

If you contact us via a form on this website, by email or by phone, we process the data you provide, such as your name, company, email address, phone number and the details of your shipment or request, in order to handle your enquiry and prepare a quotation.

The legal basis is Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR where your enquiry relates to the conclusion or performance of a contract, and otherwise Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (our legitimate interest in answering enquiries). Form data is sent to us by email.

We delete your data as soon as it is no longer required. If an order is placed, we retain the data for as long as required by commercial and tax retention obligations (usually six to ten years, Section 257 HGB, Section 147 AO).

Load calculator and upload of packing lists: The calculation in the load calculator takes place exclusively in your browser; no data is transmitted to us in the process. Only when you request a load plan do we receive your entries and any uploaded file (e.g. packing list as PDF, Excel or photo). The file is not stored on the web server but is transmitted to us by email together with your request. We use it exclusively to prepare the load plan and your quotation and delete it as soon as it is no longer required for this purpose; if a contract is concluded, the statutory retention periods apply. Please only upload documents that are required for load planning.

5. Shipment tracking and email notifications

Customer access: Shipment data is only visible after logging in with the access data we provide to you. In doing so, we process your user name, your password (stored in encrypted form only) and the time of your last login. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (performance of the forwarding contract). The search function processes the container, booking or reference number you enter in order to show you the status of your shipment.

Email notifications: On request, we inform you by email about changes to a shipment (ETA changes only or every status change). For this purpose, we store your email address, the shipment concerned, the type of notification selected, the language and the time of registration and confirmation. The notification only becomes active after you have clicked the link in our confirmation email (double opt-in). The legal basis is your consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR. You can withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future – via the unsubscribe link in every email or by email to info@hmgl.de.

Unconfirmed registrations are deleted after 48 hours. Active notifications end automatically when the container is delivered or picked up, at the latest after 180 days; the data is then deleted. To prevent misuse, we store a pseudonymised value of your IP address for a maximum of one hour. A technical sending log contains only a shortened email address. The data is stored on the servers of our hosting provider (see section 2) and is not passed on to third parties.

If you follow a link to the website of a shipping line or a vessel tracking service, the privacy policy of that provider applies.

6. Web analytics with Matomo

To improve our website, we analyse its use with the open-source software Matomo. Matomo runs exclusively on our own web server; the data is not passed on to third parties. Matomo is configured so that no cookies are set and your IP address is shortened (anonymised) before it is stored. Data collected includes the pages visited, date and time, time spent, browser, operating system, screen resolution and the page from which you came to us. We cannot identify you personally.

The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR; our legitimate interest lies in analysing and improving our website. If you activate the “Do Not Track” setting in your browser, no data is collected. You can also object to the analysis at any time by emailing info@hmgl.de.

7. No third-party services

Apart from our self-hosted Matomo (section 6), we do not use analytics tools, advertising networks, third-party map or video services, or externally hosted fonts. All fonts, images and graphics are loaded from our own server. Links to social networks are simple links; no data is transferred until you click the link and visit the network's website. The same applies to the links to the current vessel position on MarineTraffic in our shipment tracking.

Contact via WhatsApp: Our website contains a link that allows you to message us via WhatsApp. Simply visiting our pages does not transfer any data to WhatsApp. Only when you click the link does WhatsApp open, a service of WhatsApp Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland. WhatsApp or its parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. processes in particular your phone number, your name, the content of your messages and metadata; a transfer to the USA is possible. Meta Platforms, Inc. is certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. We use your information solely to handle your enquiry (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR for enquiries relating to an order, otherwise Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR – our legitimate interest in fast communication). If you do not wish to use WhatsApp, you can reach us at any time by email, phone or via the contact form. More information: WhatsApp privacy policy.

8. Recipients and transfers to third countries

We only pass on your data where this is necessary to carry out your order, for example to shipping lines, carriers, terminals, customs authorities or partners in the country of destination (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR). If the destination is outside the EU, the transfer to that country is necessary for the performance of the transport contract (Art. 49 (1) (b) and (c) GDPR).

9. Your rights

You have the right of access (Art. 15 GDPR), rectification (Art. 16 GDPR), erasure (Art. 17 GDPR), restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR) and data portability (Art. 20 GDPR). You may withdraw any consent you have given at any time with effect for the future (Art. 7 (3) GDPR).

Right to object: Where we process data on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR, you may object to the processing at any time on grounds relating to your particular situation (Art. 21 GDPR).

To exercise your rights, simply send an informal message to info@hmgl.de.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority. The authority responsible for us is: Der Hamburgische Beauftragte für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit (Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information), Ludwig-Erhard-Str. 22, 20459 Hamburg, Germany.

10. SSL/TLS encryption

For security reasons, this website uses SSL/TLS encryption. You can recognise an encrypted connection by “https://” in your browser's address bar.

11. No automated decision-making

We do not use automated decision-making, including profiling, within the meaning of Art. 22 GDPR.

Last updated: September 2026