Kategorie: News
BVWW and DBSV merge to form the ‘German Maritime Industry Association’
The German Water Sports Industry Association (BVWW Bundesverband Wassersportwirtschaft e.V.) has changed its name to Verband Maritime Wirtschaft e. V. (VMWD) following the decision of its general meeting. ‘In a further step, the ‘Deutscher Boots- und Schiffbauer-Verband (DSBV) merges with the VMWD.
In future, there will only be one association for the maritime industry in Germany, as the members of the Deutscher Boots- und Schiffbauer-Verband (DBSV) unanimously approved a merger with the Verband Maritime Wirtschaft Deutschland e. V. (VMWD) at their spring conference in Duisburg on 15 March 2025. The members of the VMWD also approved the merger; the vote took place at the general meeting on 29 March 2025 in Cologne. The members of BVWW had previously approved the name change and new articles of association.
The association's headquarters will be in Cologne, while the previous DBSV office in Hamburg will remain. This is also where the new technical officer, Johannes Christophers, is based, who has been available to members and member companies since the beginning of the year as a contact person for issues such as the Recreational Craft Directive, regulations and sustainability concepts.
New design
VMWD was entered in the Cologne Register of Associations on 13 March 2025 and today presents its new look: with the introduction of a new logo, the association is also setting an example of change, progress and a contemporary external image, thus underlining its dynamism and future orientation.
‘The wave in the logo reflects many aspects of the association's work,’ says Karsten Stahlhut, Managing Director of VMWD. In future, the logo will be present on all of the association's communication channels - from the redesigned website and social media platforms to official documents and events.
‘With the new design, the association is taking another important step into the future and strengthening its position in the public eye as a strong and innovative organisation,’ adds Claus-Ehlert Meyer, who will manage the VMWD together with Stahlhut as Managing Director duo in the future.
The first general meeting of the VMWD will take place on 4 September 2025 in Hamburg. The members will then elect the association's new Executive Committee and vote on the new membership fee regulations.
About the German Maritime Industries Association
The Verband Maritime Wirtschaft Deutschland e. V. is the result of a merger between the Bundesverband Wassersportwirtschaft (BVWW) and the Deutscher Boots- und Schiffbauer-Verband (DBSV). The new association represents the political interests of all companies active in the maritime industry, such as shipyards for boats and yachts (ships), charter companies, boat builders and dealers and importers, marinas, the diving industry association and companies active in canoeing. The new association is also the conceptual sponsor of the world's largest water sports trade fair ‘boot’, which takes place annually in January in Düsseldorf.
Further information:
German Maritime Industry Association
German Marine Federation
Member of European Boating Industry
Gunther-Plüschow-Str. 8
D-50829 Cologne
Phone: +49 221 5957115
Fax: +49 221 5957110
E-Mail: info@vmwd.org
Web: https://www.vmwd.org and https://www.entdecke-wassersport.de