SEA EUROPE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING IN VIGO – A YEAR OF CHANGES

On 23 June, a total of 36 representatives from the most important shipyards and maritime equipment industries from Europe met at the Port Authority facilities of Vigo (Spain) at the occasion of SEA Europe’s 2017 General Assembly. The General Assembly was organised by the Galician Naval Cluster, ACLUNAGA, directed by Marcos Freire, in cooperation with NAVANTIA. It was the first meeting of this kind performed in Spain.

The General Assembly was preceded by various working group meetings and a Board of Directors, to take stock of the developments of the period 2016/2017 and to reflect on the upcoming challenges of 2017/2018. In this respect, it was noteworthy that the Board commended the work carried out by SEA Europe’s Secretariat, under the impulse of the new Secretary General, Christophe Tytgat.

In the period 2016-2017 (first half), SEA Europe went through an internal reorganisation, characterised by a new role for the Secretariat, a revision of the association’s priorities and an enhanced organisation structure. This reorganisation aimed at improving the association’s efficiency, professionalism and visibility towards international, European and national policy-makers as well as towards member-associations and their member-companies.

The Board also reflected on the upcoming challenges, which comprise, inter alia, unfair or aggressive competition from third countries, enhanced trade protectionism, decarbonisation, digitalisation, connected shipping, disruptive technologies, or the need for appropriate skills. The Board welcomed the fact that SEA Europe had been reconfirmed as the secretariat of the reorganised Waterborne Technology Platform and invited SEA Europe members to start preparing the forthcoming EU R&D Framework Programme soon. The Board also mandated the SEA Naval Group to continue its activities on defence-related RDI. Finally, the Board endorsed a proposal from the Secretariat to launch an internal reflection exercise aiming at identifying the industry’s needs in the light of upcoming challenges. This exercise can, inter alia, build on the expertise gained from the industry strategy “LeaderSHIP 2020” and from other recent studies.

The General Assembly of SEA Europe appointed Mrs. Kjersti Kleven (Norway) as new Chair for the next two years, substituting Kjeld Dittmann (Denmark). Mrs. Kleven is co-owner and Chair of the Board of the Norwegian shipbuilding group Kleven Maritime AS (KLEVEN). KLEVEN operates two shipyards, with around 700 employees, the largest privately-owned shipyard-group in Norway. In addition, the General Assembly also appointed the following new Vice Chairs: Bernard Meyer (Managing Partner Meyer Werft), Kjeld Dittmann (Managing Director, Wärtsilä Lyngsø Marine A/S), Hervé Guillou (Chairman & CEO Naval Group), Kees-Jan Mes (Vice-President Marine, Pon Equipment and Pon Power B.V.), Dirk Lehmann (Managing Director Becker Marine Systems), and Juan Luis Sánchez (SEA SMRC Chairman and Director Astander).

Background Note:  SEA Europe represents close to 100% of the European shipbuilding industry in 18 nations, encompassing the production, maintenance, repair and conversion of all types of ships and floating structures, commercial as well as naval, including the full supply chain with the various producers of maritime systems, equipment material, and services.

For further information please visit www.seaeurope.eu or contact:

Christophe Tytgat, Secretary General, ct@seaeurope.eu

Tel: +32 (0)2.230.32.87