Environmental Protection Proposal Request for the Commission
On September 6, 2023, the Upper Town Hall in Bremen played host to the annual Captain's Day event, a tradition that has been upheld since 1965. This year's gathering saw around 300 guests in attendance, including Bremen's Senator for the Economy, Transport, and Digitalization, Kristina Vogt, and Olaf Lies, the Lower Saxony counterpart and keynote speaker.
The event, which honours captains and chief engineers for their role in connecting the cities to the world by sea and air, also served as a platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the maritime industry.
One of the key topics of discussion was the integration of artificial intelligence in shipping. Captain Stephan Berger highlighted the need for captains to be well-prepared to meet the challenges posed by these innovations. Bruns, a Board Member at BHV, emphasized the systemic importance of Germany's harbors and the entire maritime industry.
Bruns also announced the new trade fair format "LogisticsConnect" for March 2025 in the Congress Centrum Bremen. The event aims to foster cooperation and innovation in the logistics sector.
Another pressing issue that was addressed was the need to attract more people to maritime professions. With the decreasing number of patent holders, this is a critical concern for the industry's future. Bruns proposed a North German port cooperation, focusing on sustainability and the responsibility towards future generations.
Captain Berger also called for donations for the work of the Bremen Seamen's Mission. The collection among the guests raised around 25,000 euros for the organisation.
The issue of harbor financing was also discussed, with Vogt and Lies calling for increased federal funding for harbor investments. They argued that the current funding is insufficient and a clear future strategy is needed.
Bremen's politics have already provided support for the BHB's planned "living cooperation", which aims to address this issue. The German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport has also announced €400 million in funding for ports and shipping decarbonization, which could indirectly support harbor development.
The Captain's Day event concluded with a curry meal, reflecting the multicultural nature of the maritime industry. The gathering served as a reminder of the industry's importance and the challenges it faces, as well as the need for continued investment and innovation.
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