Offshore Infrastructure

In this episode, Dr Matthias Catón welcomes Dr Walter Kuehnlein, principal of NRG.Vision and a veteran offshore engineering strategist. Drawing on nearly four decades of global offshore experience across oil, gas, and renewables, Walter Kuehnlein offers a unique perspective on the transition to maritime energy in Germany and beyond. The conversation explores the technical, strategic, and economic realities shaping offshore wind, port infrastructure, and the broader energy value chain.

In this episode, Dr Matthias Catón, Managing Director of the German Maritime Centre, welcomes Julian Kakarott, CEO of the Digital Hub Logistics and Commerce in Hamburg. Drawing on his experience as both an entrepreneur and innovation ecosystem builder, Julian Kakarott shares insights into how the Hub has become a catalyst for collaboration and digital transformation across logistics, retail, and maritime sectors. Their discussion explores why innovation works best through openness, peer exchange, and international partnerships, highlighting the practical realities and opportunities for companies of all sizes within and beyond the maritime value chain.

In this episode of Maritime Matters, Dr Matthias Catón, Managing Director of the German Maritime Centre, sits down with Professor Christian Bueger, professor at the University of Copenhagen, a leading voice in maritime security and global governance. Professor Bueger, who has advised the United Nations Security Council, NATO, and the European Council, shares key perspectives on varied topics and discusses the evolving risks and realities facing the world’s oceans. Their wide-ranging conversation uncovers the complex web of threats at sea – from piracy and smuggling to the vulnerabilities of undersea infrastructure and the increasing “crowdedness” of the maritime domain. Together they examine why maritime security matters not just for industry, but for the resilience of the global economy, energy supply, and digital infrastructure.

In this episode of Maritime Matters, Dr Matthias Catón, Managing Director of the German Maritime Centre, is joined by Professor Jochem Marotzke, director at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology and a leading authority on climate variability. With an academic journey spanning Germany, Denmark, the US, and the UK, and significant contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Jochem Marotzke shares his expertise on the pivotal role of the oceans within the global climate system. Their conversation takes listeners from the ocean’s function as a vast buffer against climate change to the complexities of ocean observation and prediction. Together, they examine the limits of current climate models, the interaction between science and industry, and the importance of robust, innovative research to future maritime decision-making.

In this episode of Maritime Matters, Dr Matthias Catón, Managing Director of the German Maritime Centre, sits down with Burkhard Sommer, partner at PwC and head of the Maritime Competence Centre in Hamburg. With over twenty years’ experience in maritime advisory and a background spanning ship owners, shipyards, finance, and logistics, Burkhard Sommer brings a comprehensive perspective to the evolving landscape of German and global maritime business. Their conversation traverses the industry’s transition since the shipping crisis, the resilience and transformation of German shipping companies, consolidation trends across logistics and port operations, and the delicate balance between strategic interests and open market policies. Together, they unpack the interplay of innovation, regulation, and global volatility shaping the maritime sector.

In this episode of Maritime Matters, host Matthias Catón, Managing Director of the German Maritime Centre, welcomes Jason Stefanatos, Global Decarbonisation Director at DNV Maritime. With more than 15 years’ experience in the sector and a background in naval architecture, Jason works closely with ship owners, shipyards, and maritime stakeholders worldwide to support the shipping industry’s transition towards cleaner, more efficient operations. Their conversation explores the realities of maritime decarbonisation, covering alternative fuels, regulatory pressures and complexity, strategic choices for ship owners, and the wealth of innovation driving energy efficiency. Together, they examine both the technical and economic challenges and the global frameworks shaping the industry’s decarbonisation journey.

In this episode of Maritime Matters, host Dr Matthias Catón, Managing Director of the German Maritime Centre, is joined by Professor Nele Matz-Lück, co-director of the Walter Schücking Institute for International Law at Kiel University and one of Europe’s foremost experts on the international law of the sea. Their discussion explores the legal frameworks governing the world’s oceans, how these adapt (or struggle to adapt) to modern challenges, and the implications for businesses, policymakers, and society at large. Professor Matz-Lück offers insights into evolving maritime governance, covering environmental considerations, the new high seas treaty, and the complexities of human rights protection at sea. Together, they consider the realities of enforcing the law on the high seas, the critical importance of legal order, and the outlook for future sustainability and cooperation.

In this episode of Maritime Matters, host Dr Matthias Catón, Managing Director of the German Maritime Centre, welcomes Claus Ulrich Selbach, Vice President Exhibitions Maritime & Energy at Hamburg Messe und Congress. The discussion centres on Hamburg’s role as a maritime hub, the city’s unique advantages for convening the international shipping and energy industries, and the future of trade fairs, innovation, and cluster development. Uli shares reflections from over 25 years in the events sector, offering insights into how Hamburg has grown its reputation as a global meeting place for maritime professionals.

In this episode of Maritime Matters, host Dr Matthias Catón, Managing Director of the German Maritime Centre, is joined by Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at UNESCO. Drawing on his extensive experience in international ocean governance, including previous roles in the Norwegian government and the Nobel Foundation, Vidar Helgesen shares insights into global efforts to deepen our understanding of the ocean and protect its vital resources. The conversation covers the mission and achievements of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the UN Ocean Decade and its key milestones, and the emerging importance of the private sector in data sharing. The episode also delves into the new BBNJ treaty governing biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction and explores how innovation, regulation, and collaboration are shaping the future of the blue economy.

In this episode of Maritime Matters, host Dr Matthias Catón, Managing Director of the German Maritime Centre, is joined by Dr Joachim Harms, Chairman of the Board at the German Marine Research Alliance (Deutsche Allianz Meeresforschung – DAM). Together, they explore why robust cooperation between marine research and the maritime industry is key to protecting our oceans in an era of rapid industrialisation and climate change. Joachim Harms draws on a distinguished career in marine biology and science policy to discuss the Alliance’s “mission-style” approach, bringing together researchers, industry, authorities, and civil society. This episode sheds light on DAM’s priority projects, the importance of including local communities, new tools for monitoring and innovation, and how German marine research is contributing to sustainable ocean use amid growing pressures.