Page 176 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2024
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EUROPEAN SHIPYARDS
Christophe Tytgat underlines the need for a comprehensive strategy to support shipyards
and the marine equipment sector in Europe in the face of severe competition from Asia.
CHALLENGES AND
PROSPECTS OF EUROPEAN
SHIPBUILDING
SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL WORK AHEAD
Much of the same market for complex and innovative ves-
In March of this year, the Shipyards sels, a market still dominated by Europe.
and Maritime Equipment Association This trend is concerning in light of China’s
of Europe, SEA Europe, issued a new growing dominance over global shipbuild-
market monitoring report showing the ing, which reflects the country’s determi-
prevailing trends in global shipbuild- nation to be the No. 1 shipbuilder in the
ing in 2023. As expected, the report world in all shipbuilding markets.
confirmed that European shipyards
have continued to suffer from a lack of Turning the tide: Enhancing Europe’s
competitiveness in global shipbuilding, maritime industrial capacity in light of
mainly due to Asia’s unequal trading geopolitical tensions
practices and state support. It also reaf- Despite the well-known longstanding
firmed China and South Korea’s domi- challenges and worrying findings in the
nance in the global shipbuilding market, report, there is a light at the end of the
securing 55% and 26% of new orders, tunnel. European shipbuilding is and
respectively, in 2023. In comparison, wants to remain a dynamic and innova-
European shipyards only received 7% tive industry, committed to excelling in
of new orders. the niche markets of complex shipbuild-
Moreover, the report confirmed that ing and the promising markets of green
European shipowners, contrary to their and digital solutions.
Asian competitors, hardly order domesti- The industry’s ambition is clear: to
cally. Instead, European shipowners order remain a global technological leader
massively outside Europe, notably in that aims to build and retrofit 10,000
Asia, due to significant price differences sustainable and digitalised vessels by
between European and Asian shipyards. 2035 by capitalising on the opportuni-
Lastly, the report revealed another wor- ties presented by the twin green and
by Christophe Tytgat, rying trend for Europe, notably China’s digital transitions. European shipyards
Secretary General of SEA Europe rise as a strong competitor in the niche are confident they have the relevant
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