Danish MoD press release – translated by Naval News
The war in Ukraine increases the need for stronger, national maritime security equipment. Denmark must be able to build its own warships – and within the coming years this could lead to investments of up to DKK 40 billion. The new partnership will examine and recommend what is needed to support Danish shipbuilding capacity.
Defense Minister Morten Bødskov today launches a new, national partnership for the maritime area. The partnership must work for a stronger security of supply for the Danish defense and at the same time utilize the enormous potential that exists in the Danish maritime sector to support the ongoing needs of the Defence.
“With Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the new European security situation, it is more important than ever that Denmark is able to defend itself. Here, security of supply plays a decisive role. It is crucial that the Armed Forces can obtain the material which is absolutely central to ensuring a strong, Danish defence. This applies not least at sea, where Denmark is one of the world’s largest maritime nations,”
Minister of Defence Morten Bødskov.
“Within the next few years, the Defence Forces will have to replace a large number of ships. This means purchases in the region of DKK 40 billion. The new partnership will make recommendations so that the Danish maritime defence industry can share in these investments. For the benefit of the Danish defence industry, Danish jobs and not least for Denmark’s security,” says the Minister of Defence.
The Minister of Defense has appointed Anne H. Steffensen, managing director of Danske Rederier, as chairman of the partnership. Anne H. Steffensen states:
“We are a large maritime nation with a strong maritime industry both by virtue of our civilian merchant fleet and our navy, which have always had a close interaction. In the coming years, we must strengthen the navy, as a crucial part of Denmark’s defence. A close public-private partnership is the right way to go. In Denmark, we have many competencies that can and must be used when new ships are to be developed and built. As chairman of the new partnership, I look forward to making recommendations on how we can best and on reasonable terms support the needs of the Armed Forces in the maritime area”
CEO of Dansk Industri, Lars Sandahl Sørensen, states:
“To that extent, we look forward to contributing very actively to the new partnership, with the knowledge, technology and innovation we possess in the business world. It is a natural extension of the national compromise on Danish security policy, which we in the business community fully support. Stronger Danish security requires further intensified, close cooperation between defense and industry. We have a proud tradition of developing and building ships for Danish defence, and with this partnership we continue and strengthen this.”
Dansk Metal’s chairman, Claus Jensen, states:
“Denmark faces massive maritime investments in the coming years, which Danish shipyards can bid on. It is visionary that one politically wants to combine defense policy and industrial policy. This is what we at Dansk Metal have been calling for for many years – it could become a new business adventure and create lots of Danish jobs. The maritime partnership ensures that everyone works in the same direction for the benefit of Denmark.”
Facts about the partnership
The new, national partnership for the maritime area must ensure coordination across the state, industry, professional organizations and financial institutions. This applies, among other things, to the work to strengthen Denmark’s national shipbuilding capacity.
The partnership must prepare an analysis that results in concrete recommendations on how we can best support the Norwegian Armed Forces’ long-term needs for ship procurement – among other things by ensuring that Denmark has the skills to design, build and maintain warships.
The partnership is made up of members appointed by the following organisations:
Ministry of Defense (“Deputy Chairman”)
The Defense Command at the Defense Ship Programme
The Ministry of Defence’s Materiel and Procurement Agency
Ministry of Business
Ministry of Education and Research
Danish Industry
Danish Metal
Danish Maritime
3F Industry
Insurance & Pension
Maritime DTU
MARTEC in Frederikshavn
The partnership’s secretariat is managed by the Ministry of Defense in collaboration with
The Ministry of Business and the Ministry of Education and Research.
