German Shipowners’ Association Engages with Politics

Together with guests from maritime politics, the German Shipowners’ Association discussed the Federal Government’s Maritime Future Agenda at the “VDR Blue Night” and provided an outlook on trends and developments in shipping. The President of the VDR, Dr. Gaby Bornheim, emphasized the importance of the German maritime economy in her welcome speech. Germany remains one of the world’s most important shipping nations with over 1,900 ships.

(Hamburg/Berlin) Climate change, supply bottlenecks, the Corona pandemic, and the Ukraine war are currently converging and making it palpable for everyone what supply shortages mean. Politics and business are challenged to do the right thing now. “At its core, it is about our maritime sovereignty in light of the crises and challenges of our time. It is about a strong and competitive shipping location in Germany. It is about our maritime and economic independence.”

Climate Protection Has the Highest Priority

Climate protection also has the highest priority. The VDR is committed to the goal of decarbonizing the German fleet by 2050. “To achieve our self-imposed goal, we need a revolution in fuels. We need alternative fuels. Produced from sun, wind, or geothermal energy in the so-called Power-to-Liquid process,” said Bornheim.

After an impulse lecture by Parliamentary State Secretary Daniela Kluckert, a panel with policy experts and the environmental association NABU discussed central political questions from supply chains to climate protection. The coordinator for maritime economy, Claudia Müller, delivered the concluding keynote.

Statements from Participants:

• PStS Daniela Kluckert (FDP), Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport: “Germany is a fundamental and logistical hub for Europe and the world. As an export-oriented nation, the seaports and inland ports in our country form a fundamental basis for our economic value creation processes. Therefore, a powerful merchant fleet is of enormous importance for our overall economic success.”
• Claudia Müller, MdB (Alliance 90/The Greens), Coordinator of the Federal Government for Maritime Economy and Tourism: “Shipping has been and is the basis for a successful export-oriented economy. A strong German merchant fleet is therefore essential for a resilient German economy. This is more true today than ever. But the industry must also make a substantial contribution to achieving climate goals. I therefore very much welcome the commitment to climate-neutral shipping by 2050.”
• Lukas Benner, MdB (Alliance 90/The Greens): “For a future-proof shipping location in times of climate crisis, three things are primarily needed: courageous and far-sighted investments in emission-free drive technologies, a clear legal framework for the use of these technologies, and the common goal of industry and politics to make Germany a pioneer for a climate-neutral value chain in shipbuilding – including green ship recycling.”
• Uwe Schmidt, MdB (SPD), “Pilot” of the Coastal Gang and spokesperson for the Seeheimer Circle in the SPD parliamentary group: “We need a new concept for maritime training and more ships under the German flag to retain our urgently needed young talent on board our ships and not lose our maritime know-how. For the industrial location Germany to assert itself in the international competition in the long term, we need a powerful German shipping industry as well as uniform European competitive conditions for the seaports.”
• Malte Siegert, Chairman of the NABU State Association Hamburg: “Shipping must become cleaner with regard to air pollutants and at the same time advance decarbonization. To make an effective contribution to limiting the negative effects of climate change, shipping companies should operate their ships climate-neutrally well before 2050. Every day counts in climate protection.”
• Dr. Martin Kröger, Managing Director of the German Shipowners’ Association and moderator of the panel discussion: “Germany is a shipping nation. A maritime leading nation that relies on a smoothly functioning, safe, and competitive maritime transport. The goal of future shipping policy must be that shipping from Germany not only remains possible but also secures its global top position and thus maritime sovereignty for Germany.”

The event took place on September 20, 2022, in the “Wartehalle” of the old Stettin train station in Berlin.

Photos: © VDR