Unleashing the potential of the global maritime industry

Recently more than 200 business leaders, government officials, experts and other influential decision-makers and opinion shapers from across the maritime industry met at the inaugural Danish Maritime Forum. Together they addressed the challenge of how to meet the estimated demand for transporting 20 billion tons of cargo annually – a doubling from current volumes – by 2030.

“In an effort to turn the estimated demand growth challenge into an opportunity, the participants in the Forum came up with 41 new ideas and tangible actions. However, these are just the beginning. Ultimately, our goal is to unleash the full potential of the global maritime industry,” says Flemming R. Jacobs, Secretary General of Danish Maritime Days.

A need for more collaboration
The need for more collaboration across the entire industry and all relevant stakeholders is pointed out as one of the key messages in the report.

“To meet some of the most important challenges that the global maritime industry is facing the participants in the Danish Maritime Forum agreed that all stakeholders from the entire maritime value chain must be involved, including shipowners, shipyards, equipment manufacturers, the financial community, charterers, cargo owners, port operators, trade unions, NGOs, academia, multilateral institutions and government officials,”  says Jacobs.

The global maritime industry must assess its role
Participants in the Danish Maritime Forum recognized that there is still great potential to increase the role and positive impact of the global maritime industry and they see more sustainable shipping and efficient global supply chains as ways of assisting this.

“The report suggests that the industry can increase its positive impact on globalization and human wellbeing by significantly reducing its environmental impact while still growing. The participants see smart global regulation and innovation as important steps to achieve this,” Jacobs continues.

“The maritime industry has a key role to play in securing efficient global supply chains. The report states that significant investment and a better integration between maritime and connected infrastructure would be a major enabler for growth, especially when it comes to the emerging economies.”

The report also highlights a more proactive approach by industry leaders and the need to raise public awareness of the importance and value of the maritime industry as essential for shaping the future of the global maritime industry.

Moving Forward
Participants see the role of the Danish Maritime Forum as a platform for collaborative dialogue and for turning ideas into action. They encourage the Forum to raise awareness of common challenges, to identify a common vision for the global maritime industry, and to facilitate a process to make this vision a reality.

“We are very humbled by the task that the global participants in the Danish Maritime Forum have given us and we will strive to further develop the outcomes of this years Forum to advance the discussions when meeting again on 7-8 October 2015,” Jacobs concludes.