Maritime industry
B
ack in the 19th century, Jersey had a strong shipbuilding sector,
and its fishing boats were famous for operating off the east coast
of canada. The maritime industry, however, has seen nothing
but decline since then. Speak to anyone about Jersey’s economy,
and while they may talk of agriculture, tourism and, of course,
finance, maritime trade and commerce is unlikely to find its way on to the list.
all of which makes it surprising to hear that Jersey Enterprise, the business-
development arm of the island’s Economic Development Department, recently
gathered together a group of businesses to discuss the way forward for the island’s
maritime industry.
Looking to emulate the success of creative Jersey – a cluster of businesses
that has been brought together by the States to promote and develop the island’s
creative industries – the people at Jersey Enterprise invited a number of businesses
to meet as a cluster in order to start the ball rolling on the idea of developing the
maritime sector.
This ‘maritime cluster’ may sound more like a foray into business buzz words
than the beginning of anything useful, but the cluster idea is grounded in business
theory and, as shown by creative Jersey, has had some success in the island.
a cluster is essentially the bringing together of a number of stakeholders within
an industry. Management expert, Professor Michael Porter, best describes them
as “geographic concentrations of interconnected companies, specialised suppliers,
service providers, firms in related industries and associated institutions that
compete but also cooperate.” It is this focus on bringing competitors together
to cooperate that is the exciting element of the cluster concept.
Importantly, the cluster is not about government supporting business in any
financial or structural manner. as Sean Pritchard, Director of Business creation
and Growth at Jersey Enterprise, points out: “The key to delivering the cluster is
that the aims and objectives are theirs and not ours. We can do the same for the
maritime industry as we have done for creative Jersey, we can help facilitate
growth and diversification.”
This line is clearly supported by Wayne Gallichan, Jersey Enterprise’s Director
of International Trade and Inward Investment, who says: “The companies need
to speak to each other – government bodies will support but won’t lead.”
Taking the lead
Government realises that its best role is to help bring interested parties together
Taking its place
in a hands-off manner. Given the enmity that can exist between competing
businesses, getting people around the same table will automatically overcome
the single biggest obstacle to creating an industry-wide push for development
and growth. But will the industry want this?
certainly Don Wijsmuller, Managing Director of Whitmill Trust, is supportive
of the initiative. “Jersey has a great maritime history and has a role to play in
the arena,” he says. “The maritime cluster is a good idea with huge potential, and
on the high seas
is fully supported by the relevant States departments. Look at what’s been done
in the Isle of Man with their large ship register – though it will take some changes
in legislation to make this possible.”
Expanding Jersey’s shipping
Jersey may be surrounded by sea and have direct access to the Atlantic Ocean,
register to include category 1
but it is over a century since the island had a maritime industry of any size to
vessels would help kick start
call its own. Kirsten Morel investigates recent calls to grow the sector
growth in the market
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businesslife.je August/September 2009 August/September 2009
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