“Logistics, Shipping and Finance made in Luxembourg”

Cluster Maritime Luxembourgeois Founded in founding members – Shipowners [Cobelfret, DEME, Group Jan de Nul, Intershipping] – Banks [BGL, Dexia-BIL, ING] – Consultants, Audit firms, Tax advisors [Atoz, Deloitte, Ernst&Young, PriceWaterhouseCoopers] – Transport firms [CFL Multimodal, CFL Cargo] – Law Firms [Arendt & Medernach, Etude Glodt] – Institution [Chambre de Commerce]

Goals of the Luxembourg Maritime Cluster “The Association… pursues the aim, on a non-profit basis, of contributing to the development of the maritime sector and the associated services in Luxembourg, by implementing promotion and communication strategies…” (Art. 4 of the Articles of Association) Generally: to increase the standing, the effectiveness and the visibility of the maritime industry in Luxembourg – locally and abroad; to defend, protect and promote the interests of the Luxembourg maritime industry, in the broadest sense.

Scope of the Luxembourg Maritime Cluster (1) Membership is diversified Approach is “transversal”, cutting across traditional “economic sector” boundaries: - bringing together “the shipping industry” (shipowners & ship operators) and - its related suppliers of services: banks (finance), lawyers, audit & accounting firms, tax advisors… [targeted: insurance companies, inland port…] - its companion transport modes: rail, inland navigation, road transport, inland terminals… [“the logistics chain” or network]

Scope of the Luxembourg Maritime Cluster (2) Creating synergies and strategic alliances, reinforcing each other (flow of ideas and information: innovation through cooperation!) Maritime activity in Luxembourg is centered on “software” (managing, contracting, accounting, financing, operating “corporate structures”…), not on “hardware” (producing parts, instruments, equipment…)

Maritime clusters – a different game in a landlocked country Maritime clusters in “sea port countries” have a broader base: – including the sea ports (port authorities, port-based firms) – including “hardware” suppliers (shipyards, equipment suppliers…) – including a full range of “sea-centered professionals” (seafarers: schools & training institutions, professional organisations; research institutes;…) – including the national Navy

Maritime Luxembourg: a bit of history… Luxembourg is landlocked, but… …in 1990 and 1994, legislation was passed (and improved) to establish a “Luxembourg Maritime Register” (Luxembourg Flag) to facilitate (at that time) the flagging out of the Belgian merchant fleet: “If local economic and financial conditions force the merchant ships to leave, better to keep them under a national European Flag”

Cobelfret, an early mover into Maritime Luxembourg Cobelfret originally established in 1928 in Belgium (Antwerp), by Luxembourgers ! Cobelfret SA, Luxembourg established and locally operational in 1994 Cobelfret Group of Companies is an European Group – anchored in Luxembourg – with port/terminal operations in Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, France – with roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) services (Lines) in the North Sea [25 Ro-Ro ships owned] – with a fleet of bulk carriers (coal, iron ore, bauxite) operating world-wide [controlling 31 bulkers, Capesizes & Panamax]

1994 Legislation: A fully established & operational National register open to all serious shipowners and ship operators interested in working under a financially attractive, well- regulated and supervised quality-oriented regime 2004 Structural & policy change: shipping industry [CAM, Commissariat aux Affaires maritimes] under supervision of the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Foreign Trade, considered as an “export-oriented economic sector” (no longer under Ministry of Transportation) Maritime Luxembourg: the story continues… Today

Shipping in the Logistic Chain Landlocked countries = Hinterland of ports Trade flows in and out of sea ports must be channelled to the broad hinterland, reaching producers (industry), commerce and consumers CML wants to help develop improved links with the sea ports serving the Luxembourg region, e.g. Zeebrugge, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Flushing…

Is Geography Destiny…?! “Luxembourg region” has two aspects: - Historical & institutional one: Benelux economic cooperation with two traditionally seafaring nations comprising the main Western European sea ports (“Gateways to Europe”) Recent “flexible” one: “la Grande Région” Luxembourg, Lorraine, Saarland, Rheinland Pfalz, Région Wallonne, Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft Belgiens, transborder cooperation and coordination with neighbouring regions (local authorities) in various fields (transportation?)

Geography is also an opportunity ! CML “shipping” members can bring valuable expertise and contacts to transport firms in the “Luxembourg region” related to their dealings with the sea ports (“optimizing the logistic chain”) CML focus is currently on railroad connections with sea ports, bringing different actors together (concepts of “dry port”, inland terminals, “hub and spokes”)

Intermodality & Ecology Confronting and comparing different “modes of freight transportation” in the CML, in a B2B sphere; Promoting and expanding the role of alternative, environment-friendly transport modes for the freight traffic to and from the sea ports (specifically rail, inland waterways) Organising and promoting the use of distribution centres/terminals in Luxembourg (“hubs”), as “dry ports”, “avant-ports”

Recent & future actions… « Promotion »: - participation in Luxembourg economic missions abroad [B2B Contacts] « Bringing together »: – membership drive… – networking events… « Visibility, awareness »: – « European Maritime Day ‘09 »

Thank you for your attention! F. Bracke, President CML