Merger of the associations: German Maritime Industry Association officially founded

That it would come to that, had been known since the spring of this year. But now the final step has been completed, and with the election of a new executive committee, the merger of the German Water Sports Industry Association (BVWW) with the German Boat and Shipbuilders' Association (DBSV) to form the German Maritime Industry Association (VMWD) has been officially finalised.

New VMWD President elected

The association announced that the members' meeting last week elected Henning Mittelmann as the new president. The 50-year-old shipyard owner from Kappeln an der Schlei had already been at the helm of the DBSV for a year and had played a key role in the merger working group over the past two years.

Read more:

• Interview: Karsten Stahlhut on the merger of the associations
• Merger of the associations: DBSV and BVWW become VMWD

Industry faces major challenges

Mittelmann sees the maritime leisure industry facing major challenges. Digitalisation, a ban on combustion engines, reporting obligations on sustainability and supply chains, territorial restrictions and punitive tariffs are just some of the issues that would keep the industry busy. And more:

"In this environment, it's better to act as part of a strong community, because it's easy to be ignored as an individual. That's why it's important to me to join forces and launch the VMWD so that the maritime industry in Germany can speak with a strong voice." Henning Mittelmann, VMWD President

Two locations for the German Maritime Industries Association

In addition to the election of the president, the association has now also been officially entered in the register of associations. Karsten Stahlhut remains Managing Director of the VMWD, having headed the BVWW since 2020. He and part of the full-time team are based in Cologne. Other employees continue to work at the previous DBSV office in Hamburg, meaning that the association is represented at both locations.

The VMWD represents the interests of the commercial water sports industry and brings together around 700 companies - from one-man businesses to shipyards with over 1,500 employees. The aim of the association is to make water sports accessible to everyone. It acts as a driving force, lobby organisation and industry representative.