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Maritime Business in Transition
Competition, Innovation and Resilience
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.
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
Key Topics:
• Resilience and Transformation of German Shipping: Burkhard Sommer explains how German shipping companies have adapted post-crisis. The discussion covers performance outlooks, strategic reorientation, and the ongoing need for reinvestment and renewal.
• Consolidation and Integration in Maritime Logistics: The episode analyses the wave of consolidation across logistics, shipping lines, and terminal operations. Burkhard Sommer outlines how companies seek greater stability and competitiveness by expanding their footprints across the supply chain
• Strategic Importance and Security: The speakers discuss the increasing recognition of ports, shipping companies, and shipbuilders as strategic assets. Burkhard Sommer details the challenges of balancing economic openness with security concerns, the role of international partnerships, and the notion of “friend shoring” in critical maritime sectors.
• Innovation and Investment in Shipbuilding: Focusing on Germany’s shipbuilding niche, the conversation highlights the need for continual investment, collaboration, and technological advancement to maintain competitiveness in specialised, high-value segments.
Guest Bio:
Burkhard Sommer is a partner at PwC and heads the Maritime Competence Centre in Hamburg, leading a network of more than 120 specialists worldwide. With extensive expertise across mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, strategy, and advisory, he has worked with leading players in shipping, shipbuilding, finance, and logistics. Burkhard Sommer began his career in the automotive sector before joining PwC and dedicating himself to the maritime industry.
Nautical Numbers:
Burkhard Sommer's chosen number is 189 million: the amount of money spent by a German industry foundation from 2013 to 2025 on training officers, seafarers, and engineers. Industry-funded, this initiative was created to sustain maritime personnel numbers as the German fleet shrank, providing ongoing support for both basic and advanced training.
Navigator’s Table
For a taste of maritime Hamburg, Burkhard Sommer recommends Restaurant Nil in St. Pauli – a high-quality, monthly changing menu set amid the lively neighbourhood close to the port. With its name referencing the Nil river and its maritime spirit, it is both a culinary and cultural landmark for visitors.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Maritime Matters for insights and expert perspectives from Germany and beyond. For further information, event updates, and global maritime viewpoints, visit the German Maritime Centre’s website. If you found this conversation useful, share it with colleagues and listen for more in-depth content from Hamburg and the world’s maritime hubs.
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By German Maritime CentreCompetition, Innovation and Resilience
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.
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
Key Topics:
• Resilience and Transformation of German Shipping: Burkhard Sommer explains how German shipping companies have adapted post-crisis. The discussion covers performance outlooks, strategic reorientation, and the ongoing need for reinvestment and renewal.
• Consolidation and Integration in Maritime Logistics: The episode analyses the wave of consolidation across logistics, shipping lines, and terminal operations. Burkhard Sommer outlines how companies seek greater stability and competitiveness by expanding their footprints across the supply chain
• Strategic Importance and Security: The speakers discuss the increasing recognition of ports, shipping companies, and shipbuilders as strategic assets. Burkhard Sommer details the challenges of balancing economic openness with security concerns, the role of international partnerships, and the notion of “friend shoring” in critical maritime sectors.
• Innovation and Investment in Shipbuilding: Focusing on Germany’s shipbuilding niche, the conversation highlights the need for continual investment, collaboration, and technological advancement to maintain competitiveness in specialised, high-value segments.
Guest Bio:
Burkhard Sommer is a partner at PwC and heads the Maritime Competence Centre in Hamburg, leading a network of more than 120 specialists worldwide. With extensive expertise across mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, strategy, and advisory, he has worked with leading players in shipping, shipbuilding, finance, and logistics. Burkhard Sommer began his career in the automotive sector before joining PwC and dedicating himself to the maritime industry.
Nautical Numbers:
Burkhard Sommer's chosen number is 189 million: the amount of money spent by a German industry foundation from 2013 to 2025 on training officers, seafarers, and engineers. Industry-funded, this initiative was created to sustain maritime personnel numbers as the German fleet shrank, providing ongoing support for both basic and advanced training.
Navigator’s Table
For a taste of maritime Hamburg, Burkhard Sommer recommends Restaurant Nil in St. Pauli – a high-quality, monthly changing menu set amid the lively neighbourhood close to the port. With its name referencing the Nil river and its maritime spirit, it is both a culinary and cultural landmark for visitors.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Maritime Matters for insights and expert perspectives from Germany and beyond. For further information, event updates, and global maritime viewpoints, visit the German Maritime Centre’s website. If you found this conversation useful, share it with colleagues and listen for more in-depth content from Hamburg and the world’s maritime hubs.