German shipping can secure a bright future but only if it learns lessons from the past decade of crisis and focuses on being financial sound, TradeWinds Shipowners Forum in Hamburg heard this week.
Several leading figures from the country's new generation of shipowners, managers and financiers said German shipping 'new dawn' would only be bright if companies zeroed in on exploiting opportunities to improve innovation and efficiency.
Alexander Oetker, chief executive of AO Shipping, said: "The more you want to grow, the more solid your roots must be."
Christian Oldendorff, the owner of Oldendorff Overseas Investments, added that pressure from capital providers was helping catalyze change. "Investors are encouraging us to professionalise our approach," he said.
The forum was held at SMM, the leading international maritime technology trade fair.
