VDR Welcomes 18 Most Important Shipping Nations of the World in Berlin

Sea air swept through the German capital Berlin as the Association of German Shipowners (VDR), together with the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), welcomed representatives from the 18 most important shipping nations of the world in Berlin.

(Hamburg/Berlin) Without shipping, nothing works – this was the consensus of discussions among state representatives and industry leaders. “Especially in times of crises, wars, and geopolitical tensions, it is essential to ensure the functionality of shipping, which is so important for international trade and nation-states,” says Caroline Yang, head of the shipping industry delegation, Vice President of ICS, and President of the Singapore Shipowners’ Association. This is one of the lessons that participants of the conference in Berlin have drawn from the experiences of the past years of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

“It cannot be emphasized enough that it is shipping that enables modern life in our complex societies and trade relations,” adds Gaby Bornheim, President of the Association of German Shipowners.

No shipping, no shopping!

“Without shipping, there would be no exchange of consumer goods, raw materials, or energy in the world. Without shipping, we would freeze in winter because gas from overseas could not reach us. We would have to forgo a large part of our beloved consumer goods. We also could not build wind turbines and batteries for the energy transition, as we would lack the necessary raw materials,” says Bornheim.

Today, shipping transports about 90% of all goods worldwide. In Germany alone, about 60% of all imports and exports are conducted via sea routes. The German merchant fleet, with nearly 1,900 ships, is one of the largest in the world. “It is often forgotten that it is precisely the German ships that set the tone internationally in the shipping business,” adds Martin Kröger, Managing Director of the important economic association VDR. “From Germany, the largest fleet of container ships in the world is managed. Germany is thus one of the largest shipping nations in the world. This is a tremendous asset for Germany, as German shipping companies secure our country’s global market leadership in one of the strategically most important industrial and service sectors in the world,” says Kröger.

The participants of the conference came from many parts of the world and agreed that, in addition to the transformation of shipping into a climate-neutral mode of transport, the functionality of shipping, maritime trade routes, and the freedom of the seas must be urgently protected and preserved.

Interest in a Strong German Merchant Fleet

“Looking at our German interests in the concert of international economic locations, we see that we particularly need a competitive shipping location that stays ahead in the tough international location competition,” explains Martin Kröger. “We have a vital interest in Germany in a strong German merchant fleet that is operated from Germany,” says Kröger.

President Bornheim adds: “We urge the federal government to keep a close eye on the competition abroad. There are many locations vying for the favor of German shipping companies. The competition abroad does not sleep, which is why it is important that Germany remains an attractive shipping location in the long term by maintaining and, where necessary, expanding its framework conditions.”

Just days before the next important meeting of the Environmental Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, where the greenhouse gas strategy for shipping is to be revised, the transformation of shipping was also intensively discussed in the Berlin round.

“The shipping industry has already expressed its commitment to greater proactivity in climate protection. We want to operate our ships in a climate-neutral manner by 2050. We hope that the states will also support this course at the MEPC meeting,” explains ICS Vice President Caroline Yang.

German Shipping Stands for Quality and Reliability

“German shipping stands for quality and reliability, for innovation, for climate neutrality by 2050, and for the protection of the marine areas it uses for its economic activities,” adds Bornheim. “However, the speed of the energy transition in shipping will ultimately be determined by the availability of renewable energy and green hydrogen, as well as the speed of expansion of production capacities for alternative fuels. The market ramp-up at competitive conditions requires a global and consistent legal framework that provides both energy and fuel suppliers and the shipping industry with the necessary planning and investment security,” emphasizes the President of VDR.

On June 19 and 20, 2023, the “Consultative Shipping Group – CSG” met in Berlin with the International Shipowners’ Association ICS, some of its member associations including the Association of German Shipowners. The CSG consists of 18 countries from Europe and Asia, as well as Canada, that adhere to the same values and principles of open and unrestricted access to international shipping markets. The main task of the annually meeting CSG is to monitor discriminatory, restrictive, or unilateral measures in the shipping sector. In September 2007, Denmark took over the chairmanship and secretariat function of the CSG.

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