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The German government has launched initiatives to enhance the maritime economy, including a new strategy for maritime transport aimed at preserving and expanding value chains in Europe. Christoph Ploß, Coordinator for the Maritime Economy and Tourism, highlighted plans to increase investment in maritime research for innovations like underwater drones and climate-friendly propulsion systems.

He emphasized the potential for energy conversion platforms to transmit offshore energy to land, potentially creating a multi-billion-euro market for German shipyards. The government also plans to expand the tonnage tax to include offshore energy vessels, encouraging more offshore wind energy companies to operate from Germany. Additionally, German ports are set to become hubs for climate-friendly energy sources such as ammonia, methanol, e-fuels, and hydrogen, with financial support considered for the import of hydrogen and its derivatives.