HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - Less than a week before the 13th National Maritime Conference in Bremen, IG Metall Küste has called for an employment and location offensive for German shipyards. "Everything is there for a good future: qualified workforces, technologically specialized shipyards and suppliers, future markets," explained district manager Daniel Friedrich on Friday at the presentation of the 33rd shipbuilding survey among works councils of 46 shipyards in the five northern German states. What is needed now, he said, is an intelligent, active industrial policy and companies that invest in the future.

The National Maritime Conference next Thursday and Friday in Bremen will be held under the motto "Strengthen the location. Protect the climate. Shaping the future". It is considered the German government's central event to support the maritime industry and, with 800 expected guests, the largest industry gathering. The conference under the patronage of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has been held every two years since 2000.

According to the shipbuilding survey, the number of employees at German shipyards has risen again for the first time in four years - to a good 15,000, which is an increase of 3.6 percent compared to the previous year. According to IG Metall, naval shipbuilding is becoming increasingly important, with 46 percent of all employees now working there. "In naval shipbuilding, we expect the German government to play an active role," Friedrich stressed. For the union, the sale of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and further mergers in Germany or Europe are only conceivable "if the state participates as an anchor investor with a blocking minority of 25.1 percent."/klm/DP/zb