The VDR – A strong partner

The German Shipowners’ Association (VDR) is a leading professional association within the German business community. It represents its members in debates with political and administrative bodies, the media and trade unions.

What is driving and impacting the sector? And what does it want? Since the VDR represents most German shipping companies from different segments of shipping, the VDR is viewed in society as the collective voice of German shipping. For any decision maker, it is much easier to ignore individual companies than a strongly represented sector with convincing arguments and a high level of technical expertise.

Taking positions

As an excellently networked industry association, VDR has an impact – at the national, European and global levels as well as among political, administrative and media organisations. 

Leveraging expertise

Having solid and reliable information is the key to success. Members of the VDR enjoy access to VDR-experts’ full range of knowledge and experience – covering digitalisation, regulation, labour law, the tax environment, port state controls, ballast water management and much, much more. Shipping companies and their employees benefit from this at all levels.

Forging networks

Cultivating contacts, exchanging knowledge, learning new things: Valuable experience and good ideas aren’t only found in one’s own company. Engaging in active dialogue with other shipping companies as well as political and business institutions opens up new perspectives. VDR creates the platform for this interaction – whether during events and workshops, at seminars or on expert commissions, but also on an informal basis. Looking beyond our own immediate horizons helps us all to become even better.

Successfully championing Germany’s shipping sector

Our experts have the necessary know-how, they listen, and they translate the shipping sector’s positions into the language of politics, administration and the media. We promote the sector’s interests in the right places at the right times.

These are just some of the many benefits of being a member of the VDR. Would you like to learn more, or do you have any questions? Please feel free to contact us.