On 27 November 2013, the Council Working Party on Shipbuilding (WP6) hosted a workshop on “Global Value Chains in Shipbuilding” at the OECD Headquarters in Paris. It was attended by representatives of OECD and Partner governments, industry associations, shipbuilding and marine equipment firms, classification societies and union interests.

The purpose of the workshop was to bring together stakeholders to exchange views on the connections and interdependencies between the shipbuilding industries of developed and emerging economies. Shipbuilding brings together a wide range of activities, including design, technology development, equipment manufacture, finance, construction, assembly and testing. With specialisation and division of these production activities and tasks, vessels increasingly result from the contribution of different firms in different locations. Looking at the industry through a “global value chains” lens allowed participants to discuss how this range of activities is spread across different shipbuilding economies and reflect on the strategic and policy implications for their countries.

Session 1: Current situation of the shipbuilding market

The first session of the workshop set the scene by focusing on the current market situation of global shipbuilding.

Presentations

Mr. Barrie Stevens: OECD International Futures Programme: The future of the ocean economy

Ms. Jenny Braat: Managing Director, Danish Maritime: Shipbuilding forecasts and market outlook

Mr. Simon Bennett: Director External Relations, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS): Demand for shipbuilding – the perspective of shipowners

Mr. Douwe Cunningham: Secretary-General, SEAEurope (Ships and Maritime Equipment Association): Marine equipment manufacturers’ adaptation to the current situation and their future prospects

Session 2: Global Value Chains in Shipbuilding

The main purpose of Session 2 was to discuss and understand the challenges and competitiveness of shipbuilding firms in developed and emerging economies, and interactions between them, through the lens of GVCs in shipbuilding.

Part 2A: General insights from OECD work

Presentation:

Mr. Koen De Backer: Senior Economist, OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry: The rise of global value chains

Part 2B: Shipbuilding in emerging economies

Presentations:

Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Business Director, The Viet Nam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin): Vietnam shipbuilding industry: The next phase of development

Mr. Daniel Reyes, Officer in Charge, Shipyard Regulations Office, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Philippines: The Philippines’ Shipbuilding Industry

Mr. Hiroshi (Dave) Iwamoto: Chairman of the International Sub-Committee, The Shipbuilders' Association of Japan (SAJ), Chairman of Committee for Expertise of Shipbuilding Specifics (CESS): The Effect of Globalisation in Shipbuilding Industry - Historical Observations and View on the Way Forward

Mr. Bong-Ki Kwon: Manager, The Korean Shipbuilders' Association (KOSHIPA): The change of the world shipbuilding industry & GVC

Mr. Kan Matsuzaki: Director Shipbuilding and Shipbreaking, IndustriALL Global Union: What impacts have GVCs made for workers?

Mr. Jean-Francois Segretain: Marine Technical Director, Bureau Veritas: Checking regulatory compliance: IACS recent initiatives

Part 2C: Shipbuilding in developed economies

Presentations:

Mr. Thomas Knudsen: Senior Vice President, MAN Diesel and Turbo, Denmark: Global Value Chain of Large Marine Diesel Engines

Dr. Paolo Lotti: General Director, the ASSONAVE - Association of Italian Shipbuilders, Shiprepairers and Equipment Manufacturers: Global Value Chains in shipbuilding - the Italian perspective

Mr. Reinhard Lüken: General Managing Director, VSM – German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association: Shipbuilding Supply Chain Developments from a German Perspective

Session 3: Conclusion and possible future work of the WP6

This final session aimed to highlight the key messages from the workshop discussions.