Jahresbericht 2009 - Gesellschaft für Maritime Technik eV

Flottenkommando Fakten und Zahlen 2009
Germany is the third largest location for maritime business worldwide. The German
merchant fleet is the second largest in the world. With respect to container ships(1,644)it is even
number one. In a “National Alliance for Shipping” (National Maritime Conferences), politicians
and unions, ship owners and the maritime economy, seaports and seaport companies have
jointly set the course for a generally positive development of maritime economy and a
strengthened location for maritime business. And all parties have kept their commitments made.
This alliance is to be continued to further improve Germany’s economic efficiency. Main efforts
are to increase the merchant tonnage under German flag, to provide additional jobs and
training opportunities for German personnel on board and to reorganize the conditions for
collective maritime economy.
In Germany, some 429 shipping companies operate cargo and passenger ships, fishing vessels,
tugs and other vessels. On 31 December 2008, the German ship owners were managing a total
of 3,371 merchant ships, 645 of which were under the German flag (19.4%). However, the
major portion was flagged out: 2,627 ships under bareboat charter in accordance with the terms
laid down in §7 Law of the Flag Act and 99 ships at 4.2 million GT under foreign flag in foreign
registers. In a crisis or an international conflict, 97.1% of the merchant ships controlled by
German owners (645 under German flag plus 2,627 under bareboat charter) or 95.9% of the
cargo space controlled by them could thus be placed under control of the Federal government to
ensure the supply of the population, economy, industry and armed forces if required (see VerkLG
(Law on Securing the Supply of Traffic Services) dated 23 July 2004 – Federal Law Gazette 2004 I
No. 39 dated 28 July 2004).
Since 2000 the share of merchant ships under German flag and under bareboat charter has
increased from 1,573 to 3,328 ships and has thus more than doubled. However, objectively the
number of ships flying the German flag has decreased from 692 to 645 over the same period.
According to the agreements of the 5 th National Maritime Conference, at least 500 merchant
ships should be sailing under the German flag in international service by the end of 2008. This
commitment was kept with 508 units on 31 December 2008. Provided that the economic
conditions remain the same, the target is that by 2010 another 100 ships should be sailing under
the German flag. This is a very positive development, also from a security policy point of view,
which significantly contributes to strengthening Germany’s status as a location for maritime
business.
2008
2005
2001
2000
1990
Development of the German Merchant Fleet
Number of ships Load capacity in 1,000 GT
645
551
605
692
881
575
1.075
1.064
1.632
2.627
9. 081
6.190
12.332
6.605
8.805
5.435
3.182
15.806
24.657
Foreign flag (bareboat) German flag
1 - 20
2008
2005
2001
2000
1990
52.329