The OFFSHORE–WINDENERGIE Foundation welcomes the appointment of Dr. Christoph Ploß as the Federal Government’s Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism.
The office of the Federal Government’s Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism was established in 2000. It is located within the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and serves as a central point of contact between politics, the maritime industry, the tourism sector, trade unions, and other relevant stakeholders.
Dr. Christoph Ploß succeeds Dieter Janecek, who held the position since 2023.
“We are delighted that Dr. Christoph Ploß, a Member of Parliament from Hamburg, Germany’s offshore capital, who is exceptionally well-versed in offshore wind energy and port infrastructures, has been appointed as the Federal Government’s Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism.1 The maritime economy faces major challenges – from the massive expansion of offshore wind energy and the implementation of the National Port Strategy, to strengthening our ports as logistics hubs for the energy transition. Industrial policy impulses, strategic planning, and clear responsibilities are now crucial.” – Karina Würtz, Managing Director of the OFFSHORE-WINDENERGIE Foundation.
The OFFSHORE-WINDENERGIE Foundation was founded in 2005 to promote environmental and climate protection through improved research and development of offshore wind energy.3 It has established itself as a non-partisan, supra-regional, and4 cross-sectoral think tank for the development of offshore wind energy in Germany and Europe.5 The Foundation serves as a communication platform for stakeholders from politics, business, and research, facilitates knowledge exchange, and sees itself as an idea generator and multiplier.6The Foundation’s Board of Trustees includes important federal and state ministries for the offshore wind sector, as well as operators, manufacturers, transmission system operators, suppliers, banks, and insurance companies.
Dr. Christoph Ploß, a politician from Hamburg, is a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and has been a member of the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, since 2017.7 As an experienced politician, he has served, among other roles, as the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s rapporteur on the Transport Committee and as chairman of the CDU regional group in Hamburg. He studied history at the University of Hamburg.8 His experience and his background from a region crucial to the maritime economy make him an ideal candidate for the position of the Federal Government’s Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism.
The office of the Federal Government’s Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism is a key position within the German government, aiming to strategically manage and develop the maritime and tourism sectors. Established in 2000, it plays a vital role in coordinating political and economic activities in these areas. Its main objectives include serving as a central point of contact between the government and the industries, developing and implementing national strategies (such as the National Port Strategy), fostering innovation and competitiveness, and representing the interests of these sectors. Given the challenges related to the expansion of offshore wind energy and the strengthening of ports, the Coordinator’s role is strategically important for ensuring Germany’s sustainable development and competitiveness.
Source: OFFSHORE–WINDENERGIE
