“E
ven the largest avalanche is triggered by small
things”. These words of a renowned American
science fiction author shed light on a real life
juxtaposition that is a living embodiment of Denmark and
its maritime industry. Even though Denmark is 76 times
smaller than India and has a population that roughly equals
the Indian city of Hyderabad, the country has taken the
global maritime industry by storm. However, the arrival of
Denmark as a great player on the global maritime stage
has been nothing like a sudden, fast moving avalanche.
Seafaring has been a part of Danish DNA since the Viking
longboats revolutionized shipbuilding technology allowing
them to travel greater distances than anyone before them.
Maritime transport has been a vital source of income in
Denmark since the Viking era and it is still growing hand-
in-hand with increasing international trade. Today, almost 5
pct. of global trade is transported by the Danish merchant
fleet, which contributes significantly to the Danish economy.
Denmark’s considerable role in the international shipping
industry is illustrated by the fact that every 15 minutes
a Danish operated ship arrives or departs from a port
somewhere in the world. The ships are carrying goods to
and from countries at different steps on the world economic
ladder.
To be precise, Denmark
is the world’s 6th
TOP TEN OPERATOR
largest in terms of
NATIONS (GT)
operating tonnage and
1. Greece
158,212,563
12th largest in terms
2. Japan
126,041,407
of owned tonnage.
3. China
107,303,798
4. Singapore
101,885,867
These figures makes
5.
USA
64,208,970
Denmark
one
of
6. Denmark
62,881,785
the world’s leading
7. Germany
58,802,259
maritime
nations.
8. South Korea 53,970,712
What is interesting to
9. Hong Kong
51,207,019
10. UK
50,827,133
know is how a small
country of 5.8 million Source: IHS/SEAWEB
(less than 0.1% of
world’s population) has been able to achieve such a feat.
The answer lies in a model known as “Danish Maritime
Cluster” where the industry cooperates across various
stakeholders including academia, government ministries
and private players.
Peerless Growth Model - Danish Maritime Cluster
Danish Maritime Cluster is a big part of Denmark’s economic
success story. It is often referred to as Blue Denmark, and
it has created jobs for almost 110.000 Danish nationals –
directly and indirectly. Additionally, it accounts for 20% of
the national GDP while Danish maritime companies account
for approximately one-fourth of Denmark’s total exports.
This is a significant contribution from one single industry,
which clearly elucidates its importance in the Danish
maritime landscape.
Blue Denmark consists not only of ship-owners and shipping
companies but it also has a strong position within maritime
services; shipbrokers, shipyards, supplying equipments,
components and service to ships, etc. whose activities
derive from international and Danish shipping and offers
high-tech and green solutions to shipping and offshore
industry.
The Danish maritime
technology industry is
famous for its quality
products and its
innovative technological
solutions.
13