Author and contact person
Rune O. Methi
Project Director
+47 91 84 07 12
rune.methi@east-cci.no
Market focus on The Baltic Sea Region:
Report from a fact-finding business mission 26-28 June 2023 by the Norwegian Green Maritime Business Cluster (NGMBC) organized by East CCI of Norway. The delegation consisted of the following participants: Ulstein Group, Port of Narvik, Fiskerstrand Yard, Sparebanken Møre, NTNU Ålesund, and Optimar.
The business delegation started at June 26th including meeting with management of Tallinn Port authorities followed up by lunch with Kaupo Läänerand, Deputy Secretary General for Maritime at Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication and BLRT Grupp. The program continued with B2B presentation of the executive management, and a guided tour at the yard of BLRT Grupp, Tallinn & Tallinn Shipyard. The program also included a presentation for chargé d’affaires Isabel Kemp from the Norwegian Embassy in Tallinn, before the program ended up with an introduction to the SRC Group AS (on-site). More details: Norwegian Green Maritime Business Cluster Delegation Visited BLRT Grupp – BLRT Grupp
Later the delegation continued to Klaipeda, Lithuania for meeting with top management at the Western Shipyard, followed up by a guided tour at the impressive yard, giving work to 4000 employees. The group continues with business talks at the Port terminal “Bega” we ended this noon at the Klaipeda science and technology Park for mutual business talk.
Later on, we were invited for a study visit at the KU Marine research institute – to see how the academia and business implement their various strategies.
This afternoon ended up with a very good mutual presentation of Klaipeda Port authority and the NGMBC network.
The background for the business delagation was that the Baltic Sea region is a very significant area for shipping and maritime activities in the Nordics, and there are several initiatives and strategies in place to promote a green transition in the region that can benefit from Norwegian technology and innovation, but first some important key facts:
Geographical location: The Baltic Sea is a brackish sea located in Northern Europe, surrounded by countries such as Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, and Denmark.
Size: The Baltic Sea is the largest brackish sea in the world, with a surface area of approximately 415,000 square kilometers and a maximum depth of around 459 meters.
Shipping: The Baltic Sea is a major shipping area, with approximately 3,000 ships passing through the region every day. The majority of these ships transport goods such as oil, gas, and minerals.
Environment: The Baltic Sea is facing several environmental challenges, including eutrophication, pollution, and climate change. Approximately 85% of the Baltic Sea is affected by eutrophication, which can lead to harmful algal blooms and other negative impacts on the marine ecosystem.
Fisheries: The Baltic Sea is an important fishing area, with a significant number of fish species such as herring, cod, salmon, and flatfish. However, overfishing, and other environmental factors have led to declining fish stocks in some areas.
Tourism: The Baltic Sea region is a popular tourist destination, with attractions such as historic cities, cultural sites, and natural landscapes. Tourism is an important source of revenue for many countries in the region.
Cooperation: The countries bordering the Baltic Sea cooperate on a range of issues through the Baltic Sea Region Cooperation, which includes initiatives related to environmental protection, economic development, and cultural exchange. The cooperation involves 11 countries, 8 of which are members of the European Union.
There are several initiatives and strategies in place to promote a green transition in the region, namely
Clean Shipping: The Baltic Sea region has set ambitious targets for reducing emissions from shipping. The “Clean Shipping Vision for the Baltic Sea” aims to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, and particulate matter by 80% by 2030, compared to 2015 levels. The vision includes measures such as the use of low-emission fuels, the retrofitting of ships with emission-reducing technology, and the promotion of shore power and alternative energy sources.
Renewable Energy: The Baltic Sea region has significant potential for the development of renewable energy sources such as wind, wave, and tidal power. The “Baltic Sea Region Energy Co-operation” aims to promote the development of renewable energy infrastructure in the region, including offshore wind farms. The initiative includes collaboration between governments, industry, and academic sectors, and aims to support research and innovation in the field.
Circular Economy: The Baltic Sea region is also promoting the development of a circular economy, which aims to reduce waste and promote the sustainable use of resources. The “Baltic Sea Region Circular Economy Hotspot” initiative aims to promote the transition to a circular economy in the region, including in the maritime sector. The initiative includes measures such as the promotion of sustainable production and consumption, the development of eco-design guidelines for ships and ports, and the implementation of sustainable waste management practices.
Green Ports: Finally, there are several initiatives in place to promote the development of green ports in the Baltic Sea region. The “Green Cruise Port Network” aims to promote the use of sustainable technologies and practices in cruise ports, including the use of shore power, the development of sustainable transport links, and the promotion of sustainable tourism. The “Clean Ports” initiative aims to reduce emissions from ports in the region, including through the use of low-emission vehicles and equipment, and the promotion of sustainable waste management practices.
