Full Steam Ahead for Danish Maritime Days

But there is still great potential to increase the role and positive impact of the industry and that is exactly what Danish Maritime Days sets out to do.

From October 6, 2014 and in the four days that follow, maritime stakeholders from all over the world will meet to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Blue and green solutions
Central to the global maritime agenda is development of green solutions in alignment with industry demands from the regulatory global bodies. This is paramount to ensure continued development and implementation of tomorrow’s green solutions within the maritime cluster.

While international shipping transports 90% of world trade, it only accounts for 10% of total CO₂-emissions from the transport sector and just 3% of world emissions.

In this regard, the success of the shipping industry should be found in the innovative nature of the business on a global scale but unless global regulators follow suit it might come with risks:

“The maritime industry endures financial risks when its businesses develop high tech solutions for the world market while global regulations and legislation still are in the development process and awaiting ratification. One of several examples of this is the ballast water convention, which still needs to be ratified at a point in time when the maritime industry has invested heavily in the different systems,” explains CEO of Danish Maritime Jenny N. Braat, who also emphasises the need of ensured enforcement of the regulations.

The challenges all call for solutions and that is why Danish Maritime will be hosting the “First Mover” event as part of Danish Maritime Days.

“With this seminar, we outline the challenges the industry faces and thereby the need for international political awareness and emphasis on the “First Mover” challenges,” Jenny N. Braat explains.

Battling a sea of paper
Another important theme relates to the challenges associated with red tape, i.e. the growing amount of paper work that ship-owners are subjected to. Although the business already finds the administrative burdens heavy, the documentation requirements for vessels in international shipping are still on the rise.

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) has been working specifically on reducing administrative burdens for a number of years, and according to the Director General of the DMA, Andreas Nordseth, Danish Maritime Days is a perfect platform to get closer to reaching that goal.

“Everyone agrees that the amount of administrative burdens have reached a point where it is just too much. Many flag states are working to solve this problem and the IMO is dedicating a lot of effort to finding solutions. Electronic solutions in particular seem to be the future. At “Maritime Consensus” administrators and maritime companies will join forces to establish the best way forward,” says Nordseth with reference to the DMA-hosted event “Maritime Consensus” that takes place during Danish Maritime Days.

“The final product from “Maritime Consensus” will be a prioritised list of concrete instruments that can guide policy-makers to concentrate on initiatives which will have the greatest effect – and thus should be applied first,” Nordseth adds with the hope that “Maritime Consensus” will contribute to global reduction of administrative burdens.

The Danish Maritime Forum: Unleashing the potential of the global maritime industry
The flagship event during Danish Maritime Days, the high profile by invitation only “Danish Maritime Forum”, takes place on October 8-9, during which key leaders – shipowners, bankers and other investors, shipyards, suppliers, brokers, lawyers, ship management, insurance, ports and various service providers – as well as policymakers and other important stakeholders and opinion shapers – will get together with one clear goal in mind: to unleash the full potential of the global maritime industry.

The two day-forum is built up with a mixture of open discussions, in which everyone can contribute with ideas, and targeted discussions in smaller working groups. This collaborative environment gives everyone the possibility to come forward with thoughts and ideas to possible solutions and impediments that will need to be overcome.

“We are pooling the brightest minds from all over the world and from every corner of the industry to try and come up with long-lasting solutions to some of the future challenges of the global maritime industry and thereby also contribute to human development and well-being,” says secretary general of Danish Maritime Days – the organiser behind ”Danish Maritime Forum” – Flemming R. Jacobs.

Jacobs mentions the estimated doubling of world trade by about 2030 as one of the toughest challenges of the industry and all stakeholders; a solution to which can only be reached by joint efforts in the global industry at large.

Please consult www.danishmaritimedays.com for further information on the events. The program will be updated on a regular basis so check back often to plan your personal schedule during Danish Maritime Days.

Source: Danish Maritime Days