The Danish Government released its new Plan for Growth in the Danish Maritime Sector, which has as a goal to position the country as a global maritime hub by 2025.
The plan includes initiatives aimed at making Denmark a global frontrunner within tests of maritime autonomous technologies and maritime digitalisation, creating more work-experience places at sea and increasing the number of applicants to the training programs for masters and ship officers, as well as ensuring the development of an overall maritime marketing strategy.
“With the Plan for Growth in the Danish Maritime Sector, the Government has set the course for Denmark to become a global maritime power hub by 2025. Now, all forces in the Danish maritime sector must join forces, roll up their sleeves and get to work to make the vision behind the plan for growth into reality,” stated Minister for Industry, Business and Growth, Brian Mikkelsen.
The 36 initiatives that are incorporated in the Plan for Growth, emphasize on individual challenges as well as on more general framework conditions.
The Plan for Growth is based on the results that have been achieved through the industrial and entrepreneurial agreement from November 2017. This agreement involved an extension of the application of the so-called DIS scheme (Danish International Register of Shipping) to seafarers on board offshore special ships, dialogue with the EU Commission regarding a scheme for maritime service engineers and the removal of the registration fee for merchant ships.
“When we strengthen the maritime sector we strengthen the entire country. We have made several steps towards becoming an even stronger nation in the maritime sectors by reducing taxes and fees. As minister of Taxation I am very satisfied with the new plan for growth as we continue this course”, explained Karsten Lauritzen, minister of Taxation.
Furthermore the new plan aims to develop a standard concept for island ferries. The introduction this concept will support the Danish strength in maritime energy efficiency and climate and environment solutions.
The greater scope of the plan for growth includes a wide spectrum of the maritime sector, and the initiatives that will be implemented on an ongoing basis towards 2025.
The hope is that maritime companies can recruit employees with the appropriate qualifications. As a result, more flexible work-experience jobs will be created and the recruitment of master and ship officers programmes will be increased.
“It is important that more young people see the opportunities of a future in the maritime businesses. Education of high quality and skilled young people is essential for the maritime sector to be an important part of the future growth of Denmark”, noted Søren Pind, minister of Education and Research.
