MS&D 2024 - what it's all about!

Every two years, the world of shipping meets in Hamburg for the SMM.

It has long been customary to use this occasion not only to celebrate the booming industry, but also to take a look at the risks. This is why the Maritime Security and Defence (MS&D) conference is held.

The motto of this year's SMM is "Driving the Maritime Transition". Nowhere are the changes to be mastered on the world's oceans more evident than in the area of safety. It is the traditional theme of MS&D - this year under completely different auspices than in the past.

Civilian and military shipping are equally challenged. Whether in the Black or Red Sea, on Africa's west and east coasts, and not least in the eastern part of Asia, there are completely new threats, technologies and tactics. The speed of change and new forms of conflict are unfamiliar and surprising, even for longstanding experts. Times of upheaval require solutions for the future. The German Navy has led the way for many others in describing some of the new trends. Artificial intelligence, unmanned systems in all dimensions and larger quantities of simple systems instead of less complex large-scale projects characterise this path. There are enough good analyses, now is the time to implement them. Defence spending is increasing in most countries. This alone makes it attractive for many new providers to enter the growing security and defence market with unconventional ideas. At the same time, established manufacturers are looking for innovative partners to develop alternative technology segments. Dual use is the order of the day - and this is where the full strength of SMM comes into play, as civil and military technology have always been exhibited side by side. This is precisely where MS&D comes in. With its "Challenges of Transition in The Naval and Maritime Domain" programme, it aims to bring together players who are often still unfamiliar with each other. The discussions will focus on challenges and solutions in equal measure. Representatives from navies and industry, from science and from start-ups will be on stage together. As the German Maritime Institute, we are firmly convinced that this conference will provide a powerful impetus to turn new ideas into reality. We are looking forward to MS&D 2024.

 Karsten Schneider