Maritime shipping is the Backbone of world tradeas the pandemic has once again clearly demonstrated. The German merchant fleet is still the fifth largest in the world. With 16.4 per cent of global capacity, Germany even has the largest container fleet in the world. At the end of 2020, 1844 merchant ships were owned by German shipping companies. These shipping companies provide 86,000 jobs directly in Germany. Worldwide, they employ 480,000 people. Germany has a modern shipbuilding industry specialising in high-tech products. Between 70 and 80 per cent of the added value of a ship built in Germany is generated by the nationally based, medium-sized supplier industry, whose sites are spread throughout Germany. The shipbuilding and supply industry achieves an annual production value of more than 23 billion euros, putting it in fifth place internationally.
Nevertheless, the Maritime industry only play a minor role in the general public perception - which is one of the reasons why more and more Maritime expertise is being lost in Germany.
Another reason is the reduction in German personnel, which is associated with the sell-off of German traditional maritime companies This was most recently accompanied by the purchase of the traditional shipping company Hamburg Süd, founded in 1871, with its 105 ships by Maersk in 2017 and the merger and subsequent takeover of Germanischer Lloyd by Norske Veritas. Around 84 per cent of German-owned ships now sail under foreign flags. The number of German ships flying the German flag is stagnating at a very low level of 290, although almost all obstacles to flying the German flag have now been removed and the German government is providing financial support in various ways with its shipping subsidy package.
The shipyards that have run into difficulties due to coronavirus are also coming under additional pressure from the increasingly aggressive presence of heavily subsidised Asian shipyards, which are entering the market in precisely those niches in which German shipyards have established themselves on the global market. However, there is also a risk that they will gain access to German expertise that is relevant to competition by investing in financially ailing German shipyards. Legally, we can hardly protect the shipyards. According to EU law, such foreign direct investments must not be subject to any restrictions.
The heart of the maritime economy, the seafaring personnel who keep shipping moving and who are also involved in the many shore-based maritime professions The number of officers in the maritime industry is shrinking in Germany and around the world. The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) estimate that there is a shortfall of 16,500 officers worldwide.
We need to make the fascination for the extraordinary profession of seafaring visible again - working on ultra-modern, digital bridges, the feeling of being able to take responsibility for the crew, the ship and the cargo at an early stage, with the prospect of being able to take over the management of the engine plant or later even overall responsibility for the ship - and later being able to fill demanding positions on land.
And we must endeavour to counteract the prevailing seablindness in Germany, the lack of awareness of the importance of maritime shipping and maritime industry for the overall economy and international trade. If we succeed in doing both, we may be able to stop the loss of maritime expertise in Germany.
Dr Karin Kammann-Klippstein is President of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency.
Photo: BSH
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