The third meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on shipping between India and Denmark was held virtually on 16 December. The JWG held focused discussions to identify areas of cooperation between the two countries.
According to a press release, India suggested cooperation with Denmark on the following:
Online Maritime Knowledge Cluster
India has invited the Technical University of Denmark (DPU), which is developing new technology and propeller designs, and Maersk Maritime Technology to become a global partner in India’s Maritime Knowledge Cluster. It also planned to invite the Copenhagen Business School to become a partner for research areas relating to maritime law, finance, and governance.
Digital certificates for seafarers and ship registry
Both India and Denmark are developing their own systems for digital certificates for the seafarers and are working on an online ship registration system. Denmark confirmed that its online ship registration module would be based on blockchain technology. The developer will provide a presentation on the system so that the blockchain ship registration module might be employed in India as well.
Maritime security
As the piracy situation in the Gulf of Guinea has not changed in the last year, continuing to be a hotbed of piracy, the Indian delegation suggested the European Union’s present data collection and sharing system should be updated. This will enable countries in the Gulf of Guinea to augment their capacity and effectively collaborate to curb the menace of piracy. It was proposed that the two countries employ a joint strategy to tackle the issue.
Green technologies
India has identified several green technology-based projects in the Port Sector for public-private partnerships. An Indian official proposed that along with investment from Danish Companies in these projects, Denmark could consider offering technical cooperation to float solar power stations and shore-based power supplies at Indian Ports.
Cochin Shipyard Limited has developed substantial expertise in building hybrid electric boats for urban transportation and autonomous vessels. The two sides could cooperate in design testing for new battery-operated vessels, 3D printing, and other related technologies.
Regarding the COVID-19 situation, both parties assured that crew change may be facilitated by respective countries and in case of any problems, the Director-Generals of the two countries will be contacted. Both parties also agreed to work on matters of mutual interest in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) by holding a series of web-meetings for experts from both sides in negotiations that concern greenhouse gas emissions. The Danish delegation recommended that along with the next JWG meeting, an India-Danish web conference can be held in April 2021.
Earlier, the sides announced a collaboration between the Innovation Centre Denmark in India and the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences. Under it, several Danish experts will engage in Echo Network, an initiative of the Indian government to boost the country’s green transition.
Highlighting the ATV, the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences visit India in 2019, an official statement said that the trip of the delegation of Danish technology leaders was unequivocal. It claimed that if India does not succeed in its green transition, the world will not be able to reach a globally sustainable future. The conclusion was equally obvious- ATV, as a technical and solution-oriented think tank, should contribute to creating more and stronger ties between India and Denmark, especially in connection with the green transition.
