The Chairman of OCEAN, Dirk J. Cupido, looks back at 40 years of OCEAN, the European Ship suppliers Organization and concludes that OCEAN's work is more relevant than ever before.
In 1976, what was then called the European Economic Community consisted of 9 member states, 8 of which were maritime nations, having seaports of various degrees of importance. The ships calling these ports were supplied with food and non-food consumables of all kind by a vast variety of small and medium sized businesses. These businesses were organized in national associations, all having the objective to preserve and maintain the interests of “the industry” vis-à-vis the national authorities. This was mainly about customs rules and regulations (and later the same for veterinary affairs) applicable on the vast variety of goods supplied. At the same time, of course, these associations had a social function.