Scholz Unveils New National Ports Strategy for Germany's Maritime Industry to Align with Climate Goals

16 Sep, 2023

Scholz Unveils New National Ports Strategy for Germany's Maritime Industry to Align with Climate Goals

Germany’s Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has announced a comprehensive plan to enhance the country’s ports, with a focus on supporting the expansion of offshore wind power, LNG infrastructure, and green hydrogen facilities. Scholz unveiled this strategy at the National Maritime Conference held in Bremen, emphasizing that the era of underappreciating ports and maritime industries is over.

This move comes after a collective plea from port cities and coastal states, asserting that investment in maritime infrastructure has been significantly lacking in recent years. They proposed an increase in public funding for ports, recommending an annual allocation of approximately 400 million euros. This boost in financial support aims to facilitate the adaptation of ports to meet evolving energy security needs and align with climate neutrality goals, a substantial increase from the current funding level of less than 40 million euros.

Chancellor Scholz acknowledged the federal government's responsibility to contribute to the development of capable and future-proof ports equipped with essential infrastructure. While he affirmed the necessity for increased funding, he did not provide specific commitments regarding financial allocations.

Bremen’s Mayor, Andreas Bovenschulte, expressed concerns that the current funding allocation would not even cover the costs of constructing a modern large school or kindergarten. He highlighted the considerable disparities in funding when compared to ports in Rotterdam, Antwerp, or Gdansk.

Scholz also drew attention to challenges faced by the shipping industry, notably referencing issues at the Panama Canal, where low water levels due to insufficient rainfall caused delays for numerous cargo ships this year. He underscored the interconnected nature of climate change, disrupted supply chains, environmental concerns, logistics, weather events, and the global economy. Scholz committed to formulating a new strategy that takes these interdependencies into account, with the goal of adoption within the current year.

Furthermore, he urged profitable shipping companies to take responsibility and invest in modernizing port infrastructure. Simultaneously, Scholz called for the development of a "European port strategy" to ensure fair competition and enhanced coordination across the European Union.

Germany’s Economy and Climate Action Minister, Robert Habeck, emphasized the pivotal role of ports in bolstering energy security and facilitating economic transformation. He noted that converter stations for transporting offshore wind energy could emerge as a new business opportunity for shipbuilders. Additionally, Habeck stressed the growing urgency, driven by new regulations from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), to decarbonize the shipping industry by making ship engines climate-neutral. This effort aligns with Germany's aspirations to position itself as an innovative maritime hub with substantial economic prospects.