About Danish Shipping
Denmark is one of the world's leading shipping nations. Shipping is Denmark's biggest export industry, and the activities on the open seas create about 115,000 jobs on Danish soil.
Danish shipping stands for quality, not only because the Danish merchant fleet is far younger than the global average, but also because Danish shipowners have elected to position themselves in more advanced, high-value areas such as container, product tanker and gas tanker shipping as well as specialised shipping services.
In 2011, shipowners contributed approximately DKK 183 billion to the Danish balance of payments, and, despite high oil prices, the shipping industry made a net contribution to the Danish balance of payments of around DKK 30 billion. To this should be added the oil and gas activities in the Danish, British, German, and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea as well as in the Middle East, Africa, North and South America and the Caucasus, which together contribute a similar net amount to the balance of payments.
As at 1 October 2012, the Danish merchant fleet consisted of 608 ships, 13.8 million dwt and 11.5 gt. At the same time, the Danish merchant fleet is among the youngest in the world. As at 1 January 2012 the average age of the world merchant fleet was almost 9.6 years, whereas the Danish merchant fleet is 8.2 years old on average. The fact that the Danish merchant fleet is among the youngest means that Danish shipowners operate a modern and energy-efficient fleet.
Blue Denmark
In recent years, Danish shipping has grown considerably, thus generating many jobs in the companies of shipowners, their suppliers and manufacturers. Consequently, shipping remains a backbone of growth and boosts the continued expansion of the maritime business cluster ‘Blue Denmark’.
The Blue Denmark cluster plays an important role in the Danish economy, accounting for an aggregate 25% of the country's total export income. The cluster’s export share of production is also high, as are productivity and earnings.
Source: Danish Shipowners’ Association - further information
The Blue Denmark growth team
In 2012, the Danish government established a growth team tasked with providing specific recommendations for maintaining and increasing growth and development in the Blue Denmark cluster. The Growth Team was chaired by Mr Carsten Mortensen, CEO of NORDEN and Chairman of The Danish Shipowners' Association.
The recommendations made by the Growth Team for the Blue Denmark, with contributions from a wide circle of stakeholders from the Blue Denmark, made up the basis for a growth plan which the government later announced.
The Danish Shipowners' Association believes that the government’s initiative with the Growth Team sends an important message of continued support to the industry.
NORDEN and the Blue Denmark
