Denmark: New Report on Ship Management

New Report on Ship Management

In continuation of the Government’s Growth Plan for the Blue Denmark, the Danish Maritime Authority – supported by the Danish Maritime Fund – has requested the drafting of a report on the growth potential within the field of ship management.

One of the conclusions of the report is that increased promotion of the Blue Denmark can help attract ship managers.

 Attraction of foreign ship manager

To an increasing extent, shipowners and companies contract with businesses which perform the operation of their ships on behalf of the owner, so-called ship managers. Today, almost half of the world’s merchant ships are operated partly or in full by ship managers and this is an increasing trend. The ship management industry is especially widespread in Singapore, Hong Kong and Cyprus, while ship management is only to a limited extent available in Denmark.

Consequently, the Danish Maritime Authority has – supported by the Danish Maritime Fund – asked Mr. Per Nykjær Jensen from Seamall to pinpoint what would, under the current framework conditions and legislation, be of importance when aiming to attract foreign ship management businesses to Denmark. The report states, inter alia, that the greatest challenge is that the knowledge of the Danish framework conditions and business opportunities is limited among ship managers.

 Report background

The report is based on interviews with, inter alia, foreign ship managers and specialists with insight into maritime issues, and it shows that Denmark has the basic preconditions for being capable of attracting ship management. There is a strong shipping industry requiring ship management services and there is access to qualified labour and a strong maritime cluster. In addition, Denmark has a good general business climate and is in general considered to be a well-functioning country with an efficient administration. However, the report also identifies areas where there is room for improvement of the Danish framework conditions.

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DMA, September 3, 2013