Impact of COVID-19 on the Maritime Sector
1. Impact on Shipping Traffic
The COVID-19 pandemic brought a significant decline in EU shipping traffic during 2020, particularly in the second quarter. According to EMSA’s report, ship calls decreased by 10.2% compared to the previous year.
In the beginning, the first quarter reflected typical levels. However, the second quarter saw a staggering 26.5% drop as global lockdowns intensified. Fortunately, by the fourth quarter, ship calls had almost rebounded to pre-pandemic volumes, decreasing only by 1.1% from 2019.
2. Decline in Maritime Trade
Not only did shipping traffic suffer, but the EU’s maritime trade also faced serious challenges. EMSA’s analysis indicates a total decline of 9.3%, which equals approximately 226 million tonnes of cargo in 2020. Specifically, imports from non-EU countries saw the largest decrease, dropping by 12.2%.
Furthermore, intra-EU trade fell by 7.1%, and exports to non-EU countries were reduced by 4.3%. These declines emphasize the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on global trade and supply chains.
3. Challenges in Shipbuilding
The shipbuilding industry was hit especially hard by the pandemic. Globally, new vessel orders dropped by over 30%, while production slowed to 85% of 2019 levels. According to EMSA, the EU’s cruise shipbuilding sector was particularly impacted, with deliveries of cruise vessels down by 34% in gross tonnage.
Moreover, new orders plummeted by a staggering 98% compared to 2019. Consequently, this trend signals a substantial shift in the cruise industry’s demand for new ships, which could have lasting effects on shipbuilding economies.
4. Impact on Ship Inspections
Additionally, the pandemic led to significant changes in ship inspection protocols. Due to travel restrictions and new health safety protocols, the number of on-site inspections dropped considerably. As a result, remote inspection techniques were quickly adopted to maintain compliance with safety standards without compromising the health of inspection personnel.
This shift could, in fact, redefine future inspection methods in maritime safety, making remote techniques a more common practice in the industry.