Danish shipping companies have always operated internationally, and therefore the industry is pleased with the global support for free and fair access to the shipping market. Seen from a Danish perspective, fair and unrestricted access to the market is vital to ensure continued growth. However, this is not to be taken for granted. The shipping industry has less restrictive market conditions than those of other industries, and these conditions must be defended against protectionism and legislative restrictions. Denmark will continue its endeavours to ensure that this is so. 

Shipping is by far the most globalised industry in Denmark. Only about 20% of the shipping companies’ turnover comes from sailing to and from Europe. The remainder is earned on the world oceans, with USA, China and Japan as the biggest markets.

An international mindset therefore influenced Danish shipping even before the word globalisation came into common use. Furthermore, ever since it became clear that the Danish shipping industry was an important player in global trading, industry policy has been to adopt liberal trading principles, nationally as well as internationally.

A rewarding partnership

An efficient partnership between shipping companies, authorities and government has created a stable basis for Denmark’s international efforts to maintain free-trade conditions. Such conditions have enabled Danish shipping to develop a significant and high-quality merchant fleet, which accounts for transporting 10 percent of world trade, while also creating unprecedented global transport efficiency to the benefit of all. 

Therefore, it is no coincidence that, in 2007, Denmark took over the Presidency of the important shipping political collaboration CSG (Consultative Shipping Group) from the UK which had held the office since the beginning of the 1960s.

The CSG is a forum for the shipping administrations of western European countries and Japan, and the CSG has now been expanded to include Singapore, Canada, Poland and South Korea. The Group must be in a shipping political dialogue with USA and keep a weather eye on the horizon to bar attempts at protectionism across the world.