SMM 2026: Maritime leaders call for closer shipping-shipbuilding cooperation

September 10 ------ Chinese shipbuilders and European shipowners are calling for closer cooperation on vessel development, alternative fuels and digital technologies as the maritime industry faces growing pressure to cut emissions and navigate an uncertain regulatory landscape.

The call for greater collaboration came during the inaugural China-Europe Maritime Summit, held at SMM 2026 in Hamburg and jointly organized by the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI), the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR) and DNV.

The summit brought together industry leaders from China and Europe, two major maritime markets that collectively account for a significant share of the global fleet.

Discussions focused on energy efficiency, operational flexibility and digitalization, with participants highlighting the need for closer cooperation as shipowners and builders respond to tightening decarbonisation requirements and uncertainty over the fuels and technologies that will shape the next generation of vessels.

Alternative fuels and digital innovation emerged as key areas for collaboration, with industry leaders stressing the importance of developing solutions that can improve vessel efficiency while giving operators greater flexibility as the maritime energy transition progresses. "Gathering leaders from across Chinese shipbuilding, European shipping and the wider maritime value chain in one room is both timely and important. The decisions being made across our industry today will shape shipping for decades to come, and this summit demonstrates a shared commitment to shaping the future of our industry together," said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, Group President and CEO at DNV.

China’s shipbuilding industry accounts for around 70% of the global orderbook, while European shipowners operate more than one-third of the world’s fleet capacity.

As the global shipping industry faces increased uncertainty, finding solutions that provide flexibility is essential.  "China and Europe’s maritime sectors share aligned missions, complementary strengths and promising prospects. This summit can serve as a starting point for deeper cooperation between China’s shipbuilding industry and Europe’s shipping community, and help broaden the boundaries of full‑chain collaboration and build an interconnected ecosystem," highlighted Xu Peng, Chairman of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).

Discussions further highlighted the importance of close China-Europe collaboration to support shipping’s transformation. "For shipowners, a new vessel is never an investment for the next quarter. It is a commitment for decades. Long-term investments require trusted partnerships, and many of the world’s most advanced commercial vessels are the result of cooperation between European shipowners and Chinese shipbuilders. Excellence is rarely achieved in isolation," said Dr. Gaby Bornheim, President of the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR).

Source: safety4sea.com