Danish Shipping (formerly known as Danish Shipowners' Association) is an interest organization which represents
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
’s
shipping industry
Maritime transport (or ocean transport) or more generally waterborne transport, is the transport of people (passengers or goods (cargo) via waterways. Freight transport by watercraft has been widely used throughout recorded history, as it provi ...
, the biggest single standing
export
An export in international trade is a good produced in one country that is sold into another country or a service provided in one country for a national or resident of another country. The seller of such goods or the service provider is a ...
business. Of the members, which counts ships from over 90 shipping- and
off-shore companies, more than half sail under the
Danish flag
The flag of Denmark (, ) is red with a white Nordic cross, which means that the cross extends to the edges of the flag and that the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side.
A banner with a white-on-red cross is attested as havin ...
, while the other half, the associated member shipping companies, do their work from Denmark without having
ship
A ship is a large watercraft, vessel that travels the world's oceans and other Waterway, navigable waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research and fishing. Ships are generally disti ...
s under the flag. The
Danish trade fleet which Danish Shipping represents, consists of more than 2000 ships, which makes Denmark one of the 10 biggest
maritime nation
A maritime nation is any nation that borders the sea and is dependent on its use for the majority of the following state activities: commerce and transport, war, to define a territorial boundary, or for any maritime activity (activities using the ...
s in the world. Moreover, the Danish shipping industry exported more than 280 mio
kr. in 2020 and therefore stood for 27% of the total Danish export.
Danish Shipping was founded in 1884 and has since formed the core of the Danish shipping industry. Danish Shipping handles the interests of the industry and works as an employer’s association for its members with ships under the Danish Flag. To be an employer’s association in Denmark means being part of yearly negotiations on collective settlements in the relevant industry – also called the Danish Model. In other words, Danish Shipping represents and negotiates on behalf of all employers, who are members, of the shipping industry (henvis). As an interest organisation, Danish Shipping lobbies for better regulative conditions for the shipping industry, in particular, for a
liberal market with healthy competition. Because of the size and strength of the organization, this means that Danish Shipping plays an active role in political decision making, both nationally and internationally. A good example on the kind of political work that Danish Shipping has participated in is the new policy strategy “Blue Denmark”.
To maintain Danish Shipping’s interest internationally they are also members of the international shipping organisations
ICS and
ECSA, which means they are a part of all relevant institutions and furthermore have a permanent office in
Brussels
Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...
.
History
Early years
The foundation of Danish Shipping in 1884, was highly influenced by the era’s political tendencies where the agricultural industry was prioritized above anything else after the
war in 1864, and it was clear that the foundation of Danish Shipping was especially inspired by the Danish businessman
C.F Tietgen’s rebellion against this official business policy. The foundation in 1884 also meant that Danish Shipping was the first
lobby organisation in Denmark, which already counted 20 members and 140 enrolled ships in its first years.
It was not a coincidence that the lobby organisation met success in its first years already, because even before the foundation of the organisation Denmark had a strong trade fleet with a long history, which had put Denmark on the world map for many years. During the 5th Century
vikings
Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden),
who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9� ...
already participated in international trade on the sea. Later other important events such as the
Trans-Atlantic slave trade
The Atlantic slave trade or transatlantic slave trade involved the transportation by slave traders of enslaved African people to the Americas. European slave ships regularly used the triangular trade route and its Middle Passage. Europeans est ...
during the 16th and 17th centuries contributed to a lot of the economic growth in Denmark during this era, but also to one of the dark parts of Danish history.
Danish Shipping’s position as an employer’s association was strongly influenced by the political tensions throughout the late 19th century, where strikes, lockouts and fights between workers and employers were increasingly common. These tensions meant that the organisation started to involve themselves in salary- and work conditions, and the organisation to its first settlement with a
trade union
A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...
on June 1, 1898. This was the beginning of the organisation’s negotiation role, which, to this day is still one of the organisation’s most important tasks.
20th century
During
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
the Danish shipping industry and its interest organisation met new challenges, as the Danish authorities wished to protect Danish supplies of goods, and therefore implemented constraints on the freedom of passage and new taxes on the industry. Furthermore, the belligerent countries’ torpedoing of cargo boats and navigation through minefields in the ocean, created a need for insurance schemes for both people and material on the boats – resulting in further administration and expenses. Despite these challenges, the Danish position as a neutral state during the war meant that the war was a commercial profit to Danish Shipping, as the neutral position made it possible to trade with both sides without as many competitors. The war eventually turned out to result in commercial gain and was good for the Danish Shipping industry.
The commercial success from the first world war continued at the beginning of the
interwar period
In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period, also known as the interbellum (), lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days) – from the end of World War I (WWI) to the beginning of World War II ( ...
, when the organisation expanded and moved to a new office. But these tendencies didn’t last for long as Danish Shipping, together with the rest of the world, was first met by
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank an ...
and thereafter
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, which brought new challenges, of which
protectionism
Protectionism, sometimes referred to as trade protectionism, is the economic policy of restricting imports from other countries through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, import quotas, and a variety of other government regulations ...
became an increasingly popular foreign policy, resulting in trade restrictions. World War II was an especially challenging era for the organisation because it resulted in a division of the Danish trade fleet as many ships chose to seek
Western Allies
Western Allies was a political and geographic grouping among the Allied Powers of the Second World War. It primarily refers to the leading Anglo-American Allied powers, namely the United States and the United Kingdom, although the term has also be ...
’ harbours during the
German occupation of Denmark
At the outset of World War II in September 1939, Denmark declared itself neutral, but that neutrality did not prevent Nazi Germany from occupying the country soon after the outbreak of war; the occupation lasted until Germany's defeat. The ...
. Nevertheless, the organisation had to expand its secretariat, because of new regulations in the industry.
In the time after World War II, especially from the 1960s onwards, shipping was increasingly standardised, laying down the foundation for
globalisation
Globalization is the process of increasing interdependence and integration among the economies, markets, societies, and cultures of different countries worldwide. This is made possible by the reduction of barriers to international trade, th ...
as we know it today and the explosive growth in the world trade and therefore Danish Shipping’s remits. It was during this time that Danish Shipping really gained economic and political influence, both in Denmark and internationally. It was largely because of the Danish shipping industry that Denmark took part in globalisation and as a result experienced economic growth.
21st century
In the spring of 2020, Danish shipping was confronted with a new challenge when many parts of the world entered lockdown due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. The
Danish lockdown and the stricter entry restrictions made it far more difficult for sailors to discharge and sign on which meant that many had their time of sailing prolonged for an unknown time. During the pandemic Danish Shipping worked hard for the sailors to let them be heard and included in political consideration, which turned out to be fruitful work in terms of the establishment of a “crew shift agreement” and the option for international sailors to get
vaccinated
A vaccine is a biological Dosage form, preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease, infectious or cancer, malignant disease. The safety and effectiveness of vaccines has been widely studied and verifi ...
in Denmark. Despite these challenges, the Danish Shipping industry again saw commercial gain during a world crisis as it was seen during World War I. The commercial gain is for example reflected in the annual budget of companies such as
MÆRSK, one of the biggest members of Danish Shipping, who saw a 16% increase in their business from 2019 to 2020.
In the spring of 2022, the world was again faced with a tragedy when the
Russian military started to invade Ukraine on February 24. The war in Ukraine had many consequences on global trade, and therefore also meant that Danish Shipping has been faced with new challenges in the form of the large sanctions which the EU implemented against
Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
. This has influenced parts of the Danish Shipping industry who have trading partners etc. in Russia.
Work
International trade policy
Shipping is the most globalized industry in Denmark, which means that besides the role as an employer’s association, lobbying for healthy competition and liberal trade principles as the backbone of international maritime trade is one of Danish Shipping’s most important tasks. To maintain these interests, Danish Shipping involves itself in different international organisations, wherein
IMO,
EU and CSG are the most important arenas where Danish Shipping is active.
Danish Shipping’s global identity is reflected in the fact that European routes only cover less than a third of Danish shipping companies’ turnover. The rest of the turnover is generated from international activities spread out in the rest of the world, where in the
USA
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...
,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
,
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
and
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
are the largest markets.
Danish Shipping is especially present in the lobbying for the better condition for the shipping industry in the EU and has increasingly strengthened its work in Brussels in accordance with the EU’s growing importance in the world. Danish Shipping lobbies for a more flexible approach to the
single Market
A single market, sometimes called common market or internal market, is a type of trade bloc in which most trade barriers have been removed (for goods) with some common policies on product regulation, and freedom of movement of the factors of pr ...
structure, as they argue that it is not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to a globalised industry such as shipping. According to Danish Shipping, this has led the EU to follow a less protectionist trade policy and open market
Besides the work in international organisations such as the EU and
UN, another important part of Danish Shipping’s work with international free trade conditions is maintaining good interrelation between shipowners, authorities, and governments. This is especially reflected in the strong relationship Danish Shipping has with the
Danish Maritime Authority, who they work closely together with to make conditions that can create a strong merchant fleet with high quality, as it is seen in the policy paper they have presented together called “The Blue Denmark”. Even though this relationship is more or less institutionalized by frequent meetings between the authority and Danish Shipping, and official hearings, the full nature of this relationship is hard to cover
Piracy
The relationship between international trade and international security has increasingly been interlinked as globalisation has become evident. This relationship can especially be seen in the matter of
piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and valuable goods, or taking hostages. Those who conduct acts of piracy are call ...
which has become a matter of high politics in Denmark for example, as reflected in the foreign policy- and security strategy 2022, where anti-piracy and global trade plays a central part. The threat of piracy imposes big challenges to international shipping and trade, and it costs Danish shipping companies almost a billion kroner per year in security measures to prevent piracy attacks. As a result, Danish Shipping works closely together with the Danish defence and in international arenas to prevent piracy around the world. The work consists among other things of participation in political forums, meetings with relevant political organisations over the world and by involvement in local projects. Danish Shipping has for example been a central advocate and actor in the Danish anti-piracy work in the
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...
, and lately in highly criticized Danish mission the
Gulf of Guinea
The Gulf of Guinea (French language, French: ''Golfe de Guinée''; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Golfo de Guinea''; Portuguese language, Portuguese: ''Golfo da Guiné'') is the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean from Cape Lopez i ...
with the frigate Esbern Snarre.
Building
The association is headquartered on
Amaliegade
Amaliegade () is a street in central Copenhagen, Denmark, which makes up the longer of the two axes on which the Rococo district Frederiksstaden is centred. Amaliegade extends from Sankt Annæ Plads to Esplanaden, passing through the central pl ...
on the
Frederiksstaden
Frederiksstaden is a district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Constructed during the reign of Frederick V of Denmark, Frederick V in the second half of the 18th century, it is considered to be one of the most important rococo complexes in Europe and was in ...
of central Copenhagen. The building was completed in 1923 to a design by Emanuel Monberg. It was listed in 2000. The secretariat of
Global Maritime Forum is based on the first floor of the building.
Board
Board members are:
* Carsten Mortensen – CEO,
Dampskibsselskabet Norden (chairman)
* Claus V. Hemmingsen – CEO,
Maersk Drilling
Maersk Drilling, also known as The Drilling Company of 1972 A/S, was the drilling-rig operator of Maersk. It was based in Lyngby, Denmark. Established in 1972, the company was a Nasdaq Copenhagen–listed company with the ticket name 'DRLCO'.
In ...
and Maersk FPSOs
* Niels Smedegaard – CEO,
DFDS
DFDS is a Danish international shipping and logistics company. The company's name is an abbreviation of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab (literally ''The United Steamship Company''). DFDS was founded in 1866, when Carl Frederik Tietgen, C.F. Tiet ...
* Jacob Meldgaard – CEO, Torm
* Jan Kastrup-Nielsen – CEO,
J. Lauritzen A/S
Members
Danish Shipowners' Association organizes 40 shipping companies and two owners of offshore facilities. Half of the association members have ships sailing under Danish flag while the other half operate from Denmark but sail under flags of other state.
See also
*
N. Schiøtt & Hochbrandt
*
Søe-Assurance Compagniet
References
External links
Official websiteSourceDanmarks Rederiforening
{{Coord, 55.6866, 12.5951, type:landmark_region:DK, display=title
Buildings and structures completed in 1923
Employers' organizations in Denmark
Listed office buildings in Copenhagen
Neoclassical architecture in Copenhagen
Organizations based in Copenhagen
Organizations established in 1884
Shipping trade associations