SEA Naval raises alarm: Seaports and shipyards are the EU’s security

Źródło: SEA Naval

Announcing a new plan to strengthen the defense of European Union countries, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “The era of peace gains is long over. The security architecture we used to rely on is no longer working. Europe must accelerate.”

Before detailed guidelines and financial programs are released at the end of 2025, SEA Naval proposed its priorities “to better integrate the maritime dimension into the ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 initiative.” The announcement announcing the program’s launch emphasizes the need to “make major investments in defense.” The program provides guidance on “how to procure defense systems and build the readiness of the European defense industry in the long term.”

It emphasizes, among other things, that to effectively address these challenges, it is necessary to “Support the European defense industry by aggregating demand and promoting collaborative procurement.” It is also necessary to “accelerate the transformation of defense through radical innovations such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology.” It is essential to “strengthen partnerships with like-minded countries around the world.”

“We must invest in defense, strengthen our capabilities, and adopt a proactive approach to security. We are taking decisive action. We are presenting the ‘Readiness 2030’ plan, which assumes increased defense spending and significant investments in the capabilities of the European defense industry. We must buy more from Europe. This is a prerequisite for strengthening the European defense technological and industrial base. And this, in turn, means stimulating innovation and creating an EU-wide market for military equipment,” urges Ursula von der Leyen.

Źródło: European Defence Agency

PESCO on the Naval Course

The SEA Naval press release refers to these recommendations, among others. Programs already underway and resources deployed play a significant role in strengthening the defense of European Union countries. Mutual support is also key. Therefore, military mobility, as conceived in the White Paper, aims to facilitate the rapid and effective movement of troops across borders in times of crisis or conflict.

The accumulation of forces in threatened areas is a fundamental factor in strengthening the defense of Europe’s borders and territory. In preparation for these tasks, a full package of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects has been launched, and this is a key area of ​​EU-NATO cooperation.

“Therefore, despite the document mentioning the identification of various multimodal corridors for military mobility, including rail, road, sea, and air, the relevant maritime and shipbuilding resources are not included or fully considered,” notes SEA Naval.

Źródło: SEA Naval

Dual-Use Maritime Industries
Therefore, SEA Naval members propose implementing basic actions to complement those included in the Military Mobility Initiative program. In its position paper, the organization highlights three key areas, each with its own key recommendations:

1. STRATEGIC USE OF DUAL-USE TRANSPORT ASSETS

2. SHIPYARDS RECOGNIZED AS STRATEGIC MOBILITY ENABLING

3. STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF MARITIME ASSETS AS KEY INFRASTRUCTURES FOR MILITARY MOBILITY

“The maritime dimension, viewed as the integration of all commercial and maritime assets, will play a key role in military mobility,” emphasizes Davide Cucino, Chairman of SEA Naval.

Źródło: SEA Naval

Cucino explains that “Dedicated investments focused on the maritime sector will open up new opportunities for moving military equipment and soldiers in the most efficient and flexible manner. Maritime military mobility is the backbone of military logistics and presents an opportunity for the EU to capitalize on the benefits of this initiative.”

It is emphasized that the maritime sector is inherently dual-use. And the foundation of military mobility is the multifaceted use of civilian infrastructure. SEA Naval emphasizes that “effective military mobility depends on dual-use assets that must be constantly maintained and ready for rapid refitting or refurbishment in the event of an emergency.”

Maritime Transport Halfway European

The broader context is also highlighted: maritime transport is flexible enough to be used when large numbers of troops and military equipment need to be transferred. Seaports can also be adapted relatively quickly to perform defense-related tasks. However, there is a limitation, which has been highlighted in Poland over the summer during discussions about the return of Polish ships to the national flag.

SEA Naval notes that only “54% of global container shipping capacity is controlled by just four EU companies.” Yet “Dual-use is a defining characteristic of the maritime sector, and ships can be considered strategic maritime assets that can protect trade and sea lines of communication, as well as support humanitarian operations, maritime surveillance, deterrent patrols, and combat operations.”

Źródło: SEA Naval

However, the use of ships for defense-related activities requires infrastructure prepared for peacetime and extreme situations. Dual-use infrastructure includes not only the network of seaports, but also the resources of production and repair shipyards and the infrastructure of logistics centers.

“They must be prepared, resilient, and rapidly adaptable to defense purposes,” SEA Naval emphasizes. The same applies to merchant ships. They should be adapted as quickly as possible to the tasks expected by the military.

“This readiness is the cornerstone of European strategic autonomy. This is the rationale for presenting our main recommendations to the Commission, which are contained in a position paper and summarized in a public factsheet,” says the Chairman of SEA Naval.

Shipyards on the Front Line

SEA Naval is a permanent working group of SEA Europe representing the interests of European naval shipyards operating within SEA Europe. SEA Naval is a forum for the European maritime industry. The group’s goal is to provide the EU and its Member States with the expertise, technology, and capabilities necessary to guarantee their freedom of action. SEA Naval is composed of seven major European shipyards: Damen, Fincantieri, Lürssen, Naval Group, Navantia, Saab Kockums & Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, and three national associations: ASSONAVE, GICAN, and VSM.

These companies form a forum for the European maritime industry, presenting common positions to EU institutions, defining common goals and research and development action plans, and coordinating joint participation in EU-funded projects. SEA Naval is participating in four EDF-funded projects: SEA Defence (EDIDP), EDINAF (EDF 2021), dTHOR (EDF 2021, and SWAT-SHOAL (EDF 2022).

Źródło: EDIDP SEA Defence

SEA Defense’s Innovative Ship
The SEA Defense EDIDP project is a feasibility study to develop a technology roadmap for the next generation of naval platforms and further European development programs. The study will address the following: lower detectability, increased survivability against modern surface and subsurface threats, including high-speed and swarm threats, and reduced ship movement.

The project is also working to ensure more efficient electricity generation and storage, and the ability to operate in extreme climate conditions. Work is underway to increase the autonomy and automation of naval platforms.

For each area, the project will map cutting-edge technologies and assess the impact of ship integration on capabilities, budgets, and interfaces. It will also provide recommendations to ensure the European shipbuilding industry can implement innovations ready for next-generation naval platforms, from design stage or throughout their lifecycle,” explains Damen, who coordinates the project partners.

The SEA Naval Group supports European institutions and Member States by providing them with expertise and organizing joint participation in EU-funded projects. SEA Naval represents nearly 90% of maritime system integrators and shipyards in Europe.