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Back to 10/2008
Our globalized region
There can be no doubt: The recent economic high cycle has given a boost to the maritime industries across the Nordic Baltic Sea Region
(NBSR). This has been borne by a global trade boom and vibrant economic development at home, particularly along the
southern shores of the Baltic. It is, in fact, a local sort of globalization.
For a good number of years seafarers
from Poland and the Baltic countries have
been a much needed source of competence
for shipping companies in Germany
and the Nordic countries. At the same
time repair yards from Szczecin to Tallinn
became a relief for cost-pressed shipowners,
and today Baltic shipyards have a
major slice of the immense order backlog
for Norwegian yards as steel subcontractors.
Migrant workers from Poland are
now essential for Nordic shipbuilders to
meet production programmes.
All this testifies to a stronger economic
interdependence across the NBSR. There
is strength in complementary entities –
supply and demand of labour and competence,
and this is building stronger business
relations within our region.
There are challenges, too. Our seas, the
Baltic and the North Sea are both rated as
Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas – PSSAs.
They need to be used with care and
protected from undue pollution. IMO’s
recent cap on sulphur emissions for PSSAs
to 1.0 per cent content in the bunker oil
from 2010, will be a valuable contribution.
Poland and the Baltic countries have
filled the competence gap for Nordic
shipowners, and their seafarers have been
somewhat better paid than workers ashore.
There is a challenge in attracting young
people to a maritime education here as
everywhere else in Europe. In the future,
this may be a treasured competence that
may help to strengthen a maritime industry
in the Baltic countries, in ship management
and operation, shipbuilding and
commercial shipping.
Most of the countries under review have
seen the benefit of a maritime industry
and tried to promote it by introducing
tonnage tax systems along the EU guidelines.
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway
and Denmark have all such legislation
in place. In Sweden, the politicians have
endorsed such a scheme, it may be coming
in Finland and even in Estonia, thus
paving the way for somewhat level field of
competition.
It may be a paradox that our industry
requires tax exemptions, but that has a
reason beyond our influence. It may be a
price to pay for a globalized industry, but
in return for the general
The shipping industry in our region
is the prime driver in a large cluster of
related industries. The scale, trading area
and activities may differ from country to
country, but they are all operating along
the same regulatory framework and are all
dependent on the same support network
of services. A major part of this may be
found along the southern shores of the
Baltic Sea. With competence, hard work
and commercial vigour there is a rich
maritime potential for this region.
Dag Backa Jr. Editor, Norway.
Latest update 16-05-2008 |
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No 10/2008
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No 21/2008
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2008