With the election of a new executive committee, the merger of the two previous water sports-oriented trade associations, BVWW (Federal Association of the Water Sports Industry) and DBSV (German Boat and Shipbuilders' Association), into the new ‘Verband Maritime Wirtschaft Deutschland’ (VMWD) has been formally completed. At the first joint general meeting – on the day of registration in the register of associations, 4 September 2025 – Henning Mittelmann (Mittelmann GmbH, Kappeln) was elected president.
The treasurer will be Karsten Klemme (Yacht- und Charterzentrum, Heiligenhafen), who already held this position in the BVWW. The new statutes provide for six vice-presidents. Of the 100 voting members present, the following were elected (in alphabetical order):
Jan Brügge (Jan Brügge Bootsbau GmbH, Grödersby/Schlei), Jörg Bubelach (Wolz Nautic GmbH, Gaukönigshofen), Thomas Dederichs (BTS Europa AG, Mönchengladbach), Sonja Meichle (Ultramarin Meichle & Mohr GmbH, Kressbronn am Bodensee), Thorben Will (CTM GmbH, Schleswig) and Mario Wodrich (Pantaenius GmbH, Hamburg) were elected. This means that the largest segments of the broad-based association are represented on the executive committee.
The general meeting in Hamburg marked the launch of a large and powerful association for the maritime industry in Germany, covering all segments from canoeing, diving, shipyards, accessories, trade, chartering, marinas, insurance and even experts. Around 700 companies, from one-man operations to shipyards with over 1,500 employees, belong to the VMWD.
The new president, Henning Mittelmann, who has been at the helm of the former DBSV for a year now, sees the maritime leisure industry facing major challenges: ‘Digitalisation, the ban on combustion engines, reporting requirements on sustainability and supply chains, area restrictions and punitive tariffs are just some of the issues we are dealing with,’ says the managing director of a medium-sized company that is active in several areas of the industry and is familiar with the current problems from day-today business. ‘In this environment, it is better to operate in a strong community, because as an individual you are quickly overlooked. That's why it's important to me to join forces and launch the VMWD so that the maritime industry in Germany can speak with a strong voice,’ says Mittelmann.
He is familiar with many branches of the industry from his own business, which ranges from boat building to yacht trading, harbour operations and winter storage. The fact that he was elected unanimously demonstrates the unity of the companies previously organised into two associations. ‘This is a fantastic result,’ said Henning Mittelmann, expressing his gratitude. He has been heavily involved in the working group for the merger over the past two years. ‘We have worked hard on this – and we stand behind the Maritime Industry Association of Germany,’ emphasised the 50-year-old.
The managing director of the VMWD is Karsten Stahlhut, who has headed the BVWW since 2020. He thanked Robert Marx for his 26 years of service at the helm of the BVWW, including 22 years as president. Marx has been president of the European Business Institute (EBI) for two years. Henning Mittelmann also expressed his gratitude to Torsten Conradi, his long-standing predecessor on the DBSV executive committee.
Claus-Ehlert Meyer, who shaped the fortunes of the DBSV as managing director for almost three decades and is now taking his well-deserved retirement, was also given a warm send-off with loud applause. The legal advisor to the joint association is lawyer Stefan Meyer, whose Bochum-based law firm specialises in legal issues in the water sports business. His advice is an inclusive service provided by the association.