Maritime industry key challenges towards clustering: competitive solutions for South Baltic Region

Abstract

This theoretic paper examines the economic contribution of the Baltic Sea Region Maritime industry to the world economy, as well as how the Maritime economy contributes to addressing some of the main Baltic Sea Region competitiveness external development scenarios, such as Sustainable, Fragmented and Conventional as well as internal ones, such as Age of Growth, Regulation, Locality and Change. Baltic Sea Region Maritime industry faces many competitive challenges, such as persistent supply and demand imbalances, environmental imperatives, employment issues related to the aging of the labour force as well as the safety of workers in the shipbuilding and shipping industries. Discussing these competitive challenges in a holistic way will improve understanding of the true nature of these issues and the interlinkages between relevant industries towards clustering.