Maritime industries include both shipbuilding and recreational craft. These two sectors benefit from EU support for trade, the environment, and the application of standards on building provisions and administrative procedures.
Shipbuilding sector
The shipbuilding sector includes larger vessels such as commercial or military vessels. It also includes products and services or the building, conversion, and maintenance of these ships (both seagoing and inland).
The European shipbuilding industry is a dynamic and competitive sector, both in the EU and worldwide. It is important from an economic and social perspective. Shipbuilding offers a wide range of technologies and employs a significant number of workers. It generates income in foreign currency as the global shipbuilding market is dollar-based. It also affects other areas such as transport, security, research, and the environment.
The EU promotes the industry’s development and addresses competitiveness issues. The sector is constantly monitored by the European Commission (see in particular LeaderSHIP 2020 (1 MB)). Action is taken in cooperation with stakeholders to further enhance competitiveness and promote the sector’s development.
- More on the shipbuilding sector
Recreational craft sector
The recreational craft sector refers to boats with a hull length of 2.5m to 24m intended for leisure or sport. It includes the internal market legislation that these products must comply with, so they can be sold freely on the EU market.
The sector is regulated at EU level for safety and environmental standards, as well as design and production requirements, and administrative procedures. The aim is to ensure the sustainable development of the sector from an economic, social, and environmental perspective.
- More on the recreational craft sector