Feature 2 | GERMANY
“With special-purpose vessels, offshore
platforms and structures, as well as the devlopments of clean and energy efficient technologies, the structural change in the German shipbuilding industry is on the right course”, says the Werner Lüken, chairman of VSM. “Te current keywords, ‘green shipping’ and ‘blue growth’, stand for real growth propects, if these are dealt with across industries, segments and countries using concrete measures.” However, VSM notes that improvements
in the framework conditions are essential for this, in order to bear up to the tougher competition, which is being triggered by the aggressive acquisition policy, particularly in Korea and China. Te unbridled expansion of construction capacities by both countries far exceeds the medium-term and long-term demand for new ships with the consequence that the Asian competition is also trying to penetrate the niche markets of special- purpose vessels.
Furthermore, extensive support
programmes are being established far more intensively e.g. in Asia than in Europe. “In order to counteract this, we need
an offensive industrial policy strategy, industry-appropriate framework conditions and particularly the goodwill and willingness to cooperate of all participants in Germany and the EU!” states Lüken. He goes further by saying that without
active political support, the existence of the entire maritime economy will be put at risk. Te political decision-makers in Berlin and Brussels must finally back their commitments to the high strategic importance of the shipbuilding industry with actions, so that the necessary follow-up orders can be acquired and possible company collapses can be avoided. If the German shipyards are pushed out of the market, major parts of the
supply industry would also be at risk. Loss of the maritime expertise in Germany and Europe would quickly lead to a dangerous dependence on Asian shipping and shipbuilding countries, which would threaten Germany’s economic independence in the long term, highlights VSM. These major challenges increasingly
require a concerted approach. The continuation of the “LeaderSHIP Germany” process and the implementation of the action recommendations of the 7th National Maritime Conference (NMK) form an important basis for this. “The reorientation towards the
high-tech and growth markets in the construction of special-purpose vessels and the offshore sector is correct, without alternatives and ultimately successful. But, we know that the new course is difficult and safe waters have not yet been reached,” emphasises Lüken. NA
92
The Naval Architect September 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132