Tackling the Challenges

6th National Maritime Conference in Rostock

In a time of declining markets in which the shipping sector operates under overpowering economic conditions and container shipping in particular which struggles with an oversupply of tonnage and a considerable downturn in growth, the maritime industry met in Rostock for the 6th National Maritime Conference.

How can the competitiveness and viability of the German maritime sector be ensured in view of the current financial and economic crisis? This was one of the central questions of the conference, which brought together over 1,000 participants from industry, science and politics with decision-makers in the maritime sectors on 29th and 30th March 2009. Seven workshop discussions took place concerning the shipbuilding and shipbuilding supply industry, maritime technologies, maritime shipping, seaports, offshore wind energy, climate and environmental protection in maritime transport, as well as the Navy and naval shipbuilding.

Launching a maritime career

The VDR (German Shipowners' Association) sees the shipping policy as being on the right course. The association will maintain and boost its efforts for a high training standard in maritime shipping. In the last five years the merchant marine fleet of German shipping companies has more than doubled, even grew at an above-average rate of six percent in 2008 and is the third largest in the world with a share of 35 percent of the global container fleet. World trade and thus maritime transport as well, will pick up speed again in the medium and long term. More ships mean a need for more personnel. Qualified training in maritime occupations is a central focal point of the VDR. Joint endeavours by the VDR and partners in the Maritime Alliance show concrete success. It is necessary to pursue this course further and enable graduates of nautical schools to launch a career.

Being prepared

Within the context of “Port Management and Logistics” the participants discussed needs-oriented development of an efficient infrastructure and suprastructure for German seaports. In 2008 seaports recorded a record cargo handling result of around 319 million tons. After the current world economic crisis is overcome, forecasts call for a 2.5-fold increase in the cargo handling volume by 2025. Container transport remains the growth engine. For this reason it is important, also in these difficult times, to look beyond one's nose and rapidly expand seaward approaches and hinterland connections in a targeted and demand-oriented manner so as to meet the expected long-term growth in cargo handling.

Moving ahead with Environmental Protection

For the first time at the Maritime Conference reduction of ship emissions was included as part of the topic of “Maritime Climate and Environmental Protection”. The German maritime industry supports IMO efforts to further improve the environmental compatibility of maritime shipping. The technical and strategic focus of German industry and politics on the requirements of environmental and climate protection is of decisive importance in this context in order to secure competitive advantages. These topics were also examined in the workshop “Maritime Technologies”. German industry is a leader in the development of highly complex facilities and equipment enabling merchant shipping to develop high international environmental standards at an early stage and to contribute to further development of the same. The aim is to elevate Germany to a hi-tech maritime location.

The 6th National Maritime Conference in Rostock made it clear that the German maritime sector is equipped for future challenges and can emerge from the current crisis with renewed strength. Germany as a shipping location will further pursue the course it has taken, even in these turbulent times, in order to maintain its competitiveness and viability.

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