A lot will have to change

National Maritime Conference between awakening and concern

Last year, the 11. National Maritime Conference (NMK) in Friedrichshafen was a successful presentation of the maritime industry in the South under the motto "Global-Smart-Green". Whether the programme presented there by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy National Masterplan Maritime Technologies The fact that the NMK's efforts to coordinate and strengthen the maritime industry are bearing fruit was demonstrated virtually to over 1200 visitors at this year's NMK in Rostock.

Under the motto "Business needs the sea", politics, business and experts came together in industry forums on 10 and 11 May. Virtual conferences are currently the unfortunate norm, the BMWi managed this technically with aplomb, but there was a noticeable lack of personal encounters and informality. Nobody suggested retaining this format in the future.

The pressure on the maritime industry has grown even more. The future challenges are huge. It's about new technologies, modern fuels and climate targets. It's about the Chinese offensive, about National and European capabilitiesThe focus is on smart regulation and the right framework conditions for value creation in this industry. This affects shipbuilding, trade and handling, climate protection and digitalisation.

In his welcoming address, Norbert Brackmann, Maritime Coordinator of the Federal Government, thanked all maritime service providers and companies that have been able to maintain supply chains during the coronavirus pandemic. He emphasised the measures taken by the federal government to mitigate the effects of the pandemic with an additional one billion euros for the maritime industry and through the economic stabilisation fund and the debt moratorium for cruise ship operators.
Was it the lack of an audience or the stimulating sea air at the cruise ship terminal? It wasn't just nice greetings and declarations of support from many politicians and industry representatives that were broadcast; clear words were spoken in the forums. The most striking example: China's aggressive behaviour was described as a threat in almost all discussions, with only patron Angela Merkel avoiding using the word "China".

The Federal Chancellor emphasised the importance of the maritime industry, which has been caught in rough seas due to the pandemic. She called for looking ahead and thinking beyond the crisis: "more sustainable and digital, utilising the potential". Her statement that the maritime industry is the flagship of our economy was unexpected. A sign that the days of seablindness are coming to an end? She was not the only one to emphasise the importance of the sea for Germany in her speeches, as did Economics Minister Peter Altmeier, Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer and the Minister President of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Manuela Schwesig. The industry forums clearly emphasised the enormous need for innovation in Germany. The "Maritime Security, Navy and Key Technologies" forum was of particular interest to the marineforum. Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach, the new inspector of the navy, used the forum to emphasise his demands and describe the maritime threats. He criticised delivery times and delays in naval shipbuilding and maintenance in no uncertain terms. The representatives of the shipyard industry and the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) confirmed his fundamental views. With regard to procurement law, he said that "we have everything and yet there are still problems". The other industry forums dealt with the entire spectrum of the maritime sector, from offshore wind energy and sustainability to jobs. In his final interview with Yared Dibaba, Norbert Brackmann expressed his satisfaction with the success of the conference. The outgoing coordinator regretted that the guests unfortunately had to be left out, but was pleased with the sense of togetherness in the industry. He answered the question of whether he now wanted to become European Coordinator in the negative - but not without calling for greater European co-operation.

On the occasion of the conference, Europe's largest shore power system was launched as an "external event". The green buzzer at the cruise terminal was pressed by Rostock's harbour captain, Falk Zachau.

Text: Holger Schlüter; Photo: BMWi/Fritz