Germany: Security above and below the surface

Shipping is exposed to significant threats on the world’s seas. This is something the world’s largest shipping fair, SMM, will be focusing on in Hamburg at the beginning of the September.

Against a background of growing threats – the war in Ukraine, the tensions between China and Taiwan and the escalating conflict in the Middle East – countries around the world have been reflecting on the need to improve their military strength and are investing in armaments. Take Germany, where the 2022 budget, which is commonly regarded as marking a significant turning point, made almost 20 billion euros available to the German navy over the coming years. Naval vessels, whether they are submarines, frigates or minesweepers, are complex systems requiring huge expertise to run. All the world’s biggest industry players exhibit at ´SMM, the world’s leading maritime trade fair.

A total of over 2,000 exhibitors from around 70 countries are expected there, including, for example, the submarine specialists of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, the shipyard group NVL and the Danish company SH Defence. These and other companies operating in the naval market segment can be found on the Security & Defence Route, one of the six themed routes at the SMM, which is being held at Hamburg Messe from 3 to 6 September. Many of the exhibitors offer modern dual-use technology – in other words, products that can be used in both military and civilian shipbuilding.

Security issues are also on the agenda at Maritime Security & Defence (MS&D), the accompanying conference being held on the last two days of SMM. “We have to look at the risks involved in shipping just as we also consider the opportunities and possibilities,” stresses Heiko M. Stutzinger, the managing director of Hamburg Messe und Congress. “MS&D has long been our forum for this. And we are delighted to have been able to partner up with the German Maritime Institute (DMI) for the purpose of creating the content,” he says, lauding the organisation’s specialist expertise. The president of the DMI, Karsten Schneider, expands: “We are working on the conference programme and have a real swing in our step. We will have recognised experts in maritime security both above and below the surface of the water,” he explains. “We are particularly pleased that, for the first time, MS&D will be open not just to insiders but to all trade fair participants, both visitors and exhibitors.” Consequently, the issues will be presented to a much wider audience than ever before.

The security and defence conference will focus on current geopolitical challenges and finding the right answers to them. “MS&D is a highly regarded international event,” states Christian Bock, a commodore in the German navy and the chairman of the German Maritime Institute. The fact that the event takes place during SMM makes it unique, emphasises Bock: “Marine delegations can talk directly to shipyards and suppliers here.” In terms of content, while the focus of MS&D is firmly on the latest maritime technologies, protection against growing worldwide threats resulting from attacks on IT systems is playing an increasingly important role. Consequently, effective cyber security also features strongly on the conference agenda (www.hamburg-messe.de).