HANSA 09-2024

SMM © BMWK Robert

SMM © BMWK Robert Habeck Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action for Germany The maritime industry is of high strategic importance Dear readers, the leitmotif chosen for this year9s SMM is 8Driving the maritime transition9 and it could not be more topical. We all know that change is needed so that we can renew our prosperity and overcome the climate crisis. The dramatic consequences of increasing global warming are becoming visible in many places, including here in Germany, reminding us that we need to make our lives and businesses sustainable and climate neutral – and that time is running out. The maritime industry is no exception. Under the climate targets set by the International Maritime Organization in 2023, international maritime transport must achieve climate neutrality around 2050. At the same time, the maritime industry can make a significant contribution to lowering global CO 2 emissions. According to initial forecasts, replacing 100% of conventional marine fuels with green methanol will prevent up to 700 million tonnes of annual CO 2 emissions. Even replacing 1 % would be equivalent to eliminating the emissions of 5.7 million cars. In other words, every bit of effort is worth it and the SMM shows that the sector is more than ready to accept this challenge. The maritime industry is also of high strategic importance. Our shipbuilding and supplier industries in Germany and Europe specialise in high tech. Germany and European shipyards are among the international leaders when it comes to complex systems integration in a field where the value chain is especially long. The German and European maritime supplier industries are global technology leaders and their order books are testimony to this. The task is not only to defend this position, but to add to it. The potential is already there, especially with regard to important future markets such as the electricity sector: the shipyards have a decisive role to play in the energy reform. They build the 2 GW converter platforms required for the swift expansion of offshore wind power. Global capacity for the construction of 2 GW offshore converter platforms is highly limited. In Europe alone, we will need over 130 such converter platforms by 2050. This opens up tremendous economic opportunity for German shipyards, and we want to help them harness that potential. The federation and the German states of Bavaria, Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania and North Rhine- Westphalia have recently paved the way for a joint special guarantees programme for the construction of converters and converter platforms, so as to prevent any shortages in financing. Furthermore, cooperation at European level is essential to our ability to address the many challenges the sector is faced with in terms of trade-policy measures, financing, funding and Stateaid policies. For this reason, Germany and the Netherlands have jointly initiated work on a maritime industrial strategy within the EU Competitiveness Council. Once again, the SMM opens up great space for dialogue and talks. Make the best of this opportunity! Be inspired by the ideas and proposals at the SMM – they are progress in the palm of your hand! I wish all visitors to the SMM an exciting time at the exhibition, the exhibitors a successful fair and the readers of HANSA International Maritime Journal an inspiring read! 30 HANSA – International Maritime Journal 09 | 2024

BESUCHEN SIE UNS AUF DER SMM HALLE B4 | STAND N° 212 VORAUSSCHAUEND Als Traditionswerv fühlen wir uns der Zukunv und der maritimen Sicherheit verpflichtet. Der technisch hochkomplexe Neubau des Mehrzweckschifes setzt weltweit neue Maßstäbe im Einsatz bei gefährlicher Atmosphäre. Für mehr Sicherheit · Für die Zukunv · Für alle www.abeking.com