Employment in the Dutch maritime industry is growing and the sector is taking important steps towards sustainability. High costs and a shortage of skilled workers remain the main challenges. These are the main findings of the Maritime Monitor published earlier this month.
The Maritime Monitor 2024, a publication of the Dutch Maritime Network (Nederland Maritiem Land), an industry association in which eleven sectors are represented, contains the results of research into the socio-economic impact of the Dutch maritime cluster over the past year. This reveals a picture of an industry on the move, making strides in economic, social and sustainability terms. Steps in sustainability are seen in the development of alternative fuels, hybrid technologies and innovations in maritime and inland navigation.
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Slight decline
Despite a slight economic decline compared to the exceptional year 2022, the maritime cluster, including the port industrial area, continues to account for as much as 7.3 per cent of GDP. Direct employment increased slightly in 2023 compared to 2022, with the cluster now employing 174,610 workers. Including indirect employment, total employment in the maritime cluster stood at 313,471 workers last year.
Last year, the direct added value of the maritime cluster was €25.1 billion.Including indirect added value, total added value came to €35.9 billion.With a turnover of € 92.7 billion, the maritime cluster performed well last year compared to the long-term average. However, a small decrease in economic significance was visible compared to the peak in 2022, partly caused by the energy crisis and geopolitical unrest.
Sustainable goals
Another important development within the maritime sector concerns sustainability. New technologies and alternative fuels should reduce the ecological footprint of both maritime and inland shipping. Meanwhile, about one per cent of the global fleet uses LNG, equivalent to six per cent of gross tonnage.
Wind-assisted systems and hybrid technologies, especially in coastal shipping, are estimated to deliver seven to ten per cent fuel savings. Further reductions, such as thirty per cent less CO2 and forty per cent less NOx by 2030, will require significant investment and consistent government support to achieve sustainable goals, states the Dutch Maritime Network.
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Sector has to become attractive to women
Moving forward requires professionals with new skills, of which there is currently an acute shortage. Although more and more young people are choosing to work in the maritime sector, it is not yet possible to keep them on board for the long term. There is also work to be done to make the sector more attractive to women: over eighty per cent of employees are now male.
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Annual publication
The Maritime Monitor is commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and published annually by the Dutch Maritime Network. The 2024 edition was provided by research centre Erasmus UPT, international knowledge centre Nestra and organisational consultancy firm Berenschot, which also acted as coordinating final editor.
In addition to data, the Maritime Monitor also includes, for the first time, interviews with various impact makers – defining individuals around the themes of safety, labour, economy and sustainability.
The Maritime Monitor is available for download on the Dutch Maritime Network website (in Dutch, but with English summary).
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