Page 53: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2024)

MARTIN KROGER, CEO, GERMAN SHIPOWNERS ASSOCIATION “The Houthi rebels are not just a freaky rebel group, they are a well-equipped army. They went with helicopters onto a tanker, planted explosive devices and just blew the whole thing up. That's total craziness, but that gives you an idea of what threats we are facing.

” – Martin Kroger, CEO,

German Shipowners' Association have hydrogen, but energy density is an issue, so that's not go- [not to mention] the country with the top 10 largest container ing to be the fuel of the future. So it is methanol or ammonia. ports in the world. China is huge in shipping, and that's why

Then there are the biofuels, which you will need as a bridge we need to take the situation seriously. until we have methanol and ammonia ready in the quantity We learned our lesson with the war in Ukraine and the that is needed. Black Sea, about how quickly sanctions impact shipping and shipping operations.

Let’s switch gears. When you look at ship security, what's That is something you at least have to consider as you are top on the agenda for your ship owners? planning your economic strategy as a shipping company.

It's de? nitely the geopolitical tensions we see in the mo- ment, led by the Red Sea crisis. For the time being, if you want your vessel safe and secure, the best alternative is to sail around Africa. It prolongs your journey for about two weeks, but at least your crew is safe, your ship is safe.

The Houthi rebels are not just a freaky rebel group, they are a well-equipped army. They went with helicopters onto a tanker, planted explosive devices and blew the whole thing up. That's total craziness, but that gives you an idea of what threats we are facing. My advice to my members: ‘Please do not go through the Red Sea or the Suez Canal, because it's just too danger- ous. We have naval vessels in the area, but its’s just protection.

If you really want to be safe and secure, just choose another path. That's not ideal, because you lose a lot of time, it costs a lot of money, but of course you also have a responsibility for your ship cargo and crew, and that basically forbids you to go through the Red Sea in the moment. What is the solution? I must admit, I don't know.

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We are in close contact with security companies, militaries the International and navies that are active the area. But it is a large and complex

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con? ict, because it's connected to the military con? ict in Gaza, it is connected to the general tense situation in the Middle East,

Appleton, WI 54911 USA that there won't be a simple solution.

But it is not the only area in the world which causes prob- [email protected] lems. If you look at the situation in the South China Sea, and www.appletonmarine.com also the Strait of Taiwan, it's a huge worry for us. An even a bigger worry because much more is connected to that sea area,

Phone: (920) 738-5432 and also to trading partners like China for example, which

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