Three questions to

Themaritime economy is of outstanding importance for us. Hamburg is a port city: our history, culture, and identity are shaped by the sea. As Germany's largest seaport, Hamburg plays a central role in supplying people with goods and raw materials. This applies not only to Hamburg but also to Germany and parts of Europe. I believe that not everyone is always aware of this.

As Hamburg’s Senator for Economy, I also see the jobs and added value that the port, shipping, maritime suppliers, and service providers, as well as other industry players, secure in Hamburg.

The Hamburg Senate adopted the Port Development Plan 2040 last summer. It sets the strategic guidelines for port policy in the coming years. We developed the plan through a participatory process with the port industry, unions, and environmental organizations to ensure that the Port of Hamburg remains attractive and competitive in the future.

Hamburg benefits from strong networking. Our clusters for the maritime economy and renewable energies, as well as the Logistics Initiative, play an important role here. The Senate also specifically promotes new settlements, start-ups, and innovations in strategic areas.

An important element of Senate policy is continuous investment in port infrastructure and the modernization of the port towards climate neutrality.

High, with around 40,000 participants from over 120 countries, we can speak of a significant impact on Hamburg. The SMM is one of the leading trade fairs and conference events in the maritime industry. The fair offers companies an important platform with insights into international trends and the latest industry developments. Thus, the SMM strengthens Hamburg's position as one of the "Leading Maritime Cities of the World."

The maritime sector is of strategic importance for Germany as a centre of industry and a high-tech hub. It contributes to a high level of added value and thus makes an important contribution to Germany as a place for business and investment. Germany is currently undergoing major changes in terms of energy policy, security policy and demographic development, all of which are taking place at a rapid pace. Therefore, the maritime industry is facing a lot of change.

However, the path to climate neutrality and transformation for shipyards, shipping companies and suppliers can be seen not only as a major challenge but much more as a great opportunity. The maritime industry has a strong ability to innovate. Thanks to its innovative spirit and pioneering role in developing sustainable technologies as well as its highly skilled workforce, the German maritime industry enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide which you can see for yourselves here at the SMM. Based on this, we are well-positioned and equipped for successfully implementing the energy and climate transition at sea.

The shipbuilding industry in Germany is productive, efficient and known for its innovative strength. German shipyards are leading worldwide in terms of their ability to integrate complex systems in combination with a very extensive value chain. In some cases, maritime value chains are significantly more complex compared to other sectors. The German maritime supply industry is among the global technology leaders in this field. Therefore the transformation of the shipping industry towards climate neutrality can open up good opportunities for industry.

This is also reflected by the high number of orders being received by maritime suppliers wordlwide. And the number of orders placed with German shipyards is also rising again. At the same time, international competition continues to increase. Strengthening the maritime industry’s competitiveness is therefore a major focus. When it comes to trade or competition policies, many challenges need to be addressed also at the European level. Germany and the Netherlands have therefore launched an initiative for a European Maritime Industrial Strategy in the EU Competition Council.

The strategy is intended to help prevent losing any more market shares to Asian countries. In May 2024, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action launched the joint process to develop the National Action Plan for Climate-friendly Shipping (NAPS). In addition to working on maritime industrial policy, we also need to develop measures in the field of alternative drive and energy systems, the supply of climate-friendly energy sources and fleet modernisation. In this way, we want to create a reliable framework for investments that are urgently needed.

The SMM focuses on the transformation of the maritime industry. In order to achieve the national, European and international climate targets, climate-friendly drives and technologies must be advanced and the maritime fleet modernised. At the same time, the maritime industry is making an important contribution to the energy transition, for example regarding the expansion of offshore wind energy.

The SMM offers the ideal platform for building networks that will push this transformation forward. It brings together experts, decision-makers and visionaries from all over the world to share, discuss and promote progress that has been made as well as new inventions and advancements of technologies. I regard the SMM as a good platform for the global maritime industry. It represents innovation, technology and development and thus promotes the transformation process of the maritime industry. I look forward to many fruitful conversations and perspectives.

As I’m sure your readers will agree, the maritime sector is essential for the European economy. Just look at the role it plays in delivering the energy products, raw materials and goods that we need, and those that we export. Maritime transport handles nearly 90% of all international trade, and is responsible for around 80% of the EU’s external trade, and 40% of EU internal trade. Some 400 million passengers use EU ports every year.

In recent years, the strategic importance of the EU maritime sector has also increased, first due to the pandemic, and then geopolitical challenges. Assuring Europe's energy security and supply chains has become crucial, and shipping has proved very resilient in doing so. The sector is also a key employer, providing approximately 4.2 million direct jobs.

And then there’s shipbuilding. European companies are world leaders in the construction of complex vessels, such as cruise ships, ferries and mega-yachts, as well as modern, technology-based maritime equipment. Our maritime technology industry is a strategic sector and as such, it is important that we keep it strong.

The maritime sector, like all others, is currently charting a course to greater decarbonisation and digitalisation. Both require significant investment. To support the sector in these transitions, we need effective policy instruments that support a strong and high-quality, competitive and resilient EU waterborne cluster (shipping industry, ports, shipbuilding and marine equipment industries). We also need to safeguard a level playing field internationally and protect our industry from unfair competition from third countries.

The EU toolbox in this respect includes the potential use of instruments like the anti-subsidy rules under the World Trade Organisation, the recently introduced EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) that addresses distortions caused by foreign subsidies in the Single Market, and the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The introduction of global decarbonisation measures by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), like a levy and a fuel standard, could also help put the European industry on an equal footing with foreign competitors in terms of regulatory requirements.

That is why the Commission together with EU Member States is pushing for a good outcome at the ongoing negotiations under the IMO Facilitating funding and financing from the public and private sector is another major task. With appropriate for financing for R&I the EU can better compete by offering the highest technological standard with the highest quality.  Competitiveness also requires a professional, qualified and motivated workforce. Ensuring modern and attractive training and working conditions is the answer here.

By bringing together various stakeholders and providing a platform for discussions on the challenges and opportunities linked to decarbonisation, digitalisation and technological progress, the contribution of the SMM to supporting the transition cannot be overestimated. For me, the event has huge value in enabling an exchange of ideas on for the most effective route towards a profitable and sustainable maritime industry in Europe.