A new maritime beacon in Denmark: BlueTech Event sets sail with confidence

Against that backdrop, I approached the Bluetech Event with both curiosity and cautious optimism.

What made it especially personal for me was the location and the people behind it. Back in the DMF days, our strongest collaboration partner was the local maritime cluster in Svendborg – in my view, the maritime capital of Denmark. This is the birthplace of A.P. Møller–Mærsk (1904), home to SIMAC, Denmark’s largest maritime academy, and the place where I myself graduated as a Navigation Officer in 1998.

So when the cluster – now operating under the name BlueTech Center – invited me to attend their very first Bluetech Event on May 5–6 in Svendborg, I was genuinely excited.

A strong start, thoughtfully executed

The event unfolded over two days. The first day featured an informal networking reception in a beautifully restored old warehouse by the harbour – an atmospheric and relaxed setting that immediately set the tone. The second day brought exhibitions, conferences, and live harbour demonstrations hosted at SIMAC, where the maritime heritage and future-focused ambitions of the industry felt perfectly aligned.

The exhibition floor was impressively well populated for a first-time event, supported by several focused conference tracks and practical, hands-on demonstrations in the harbour. Just as importantly, the logistics were flawless: free parking, free beverages, excellent catering, and sessions that delivered real substance rather than sales pitches.

Conversations that matter

One of the true markers of quality at an industry event is the people you meet – and the conversations you get to have. How often do you get the chance to casually exchange thoughts with someone like Ole Graa Jakobsen, Vice President and Head of Fleet Technology at Maersk Line?

Hearing his perspectives on decarbonization, future fuels, and the technological path forward was particularly meaningful to me, given that I served as an officer onboard Maersk Line vessels back in 2000. Moments like that are exactly why events like this matter.

There were many familiar faces, but also new and inspiring profiles – and a few great people I hadn’t seen for many years. It felt like a genuine gathering of the Danish (and increasingly international) maritime community.

Five stars – without hesitation

If I were to rate the Bluetech Event, it would be 5 out of 5 stars, without hesitation.

A well-deserved congratulations goes to Lars Ahrendtsen, Director of Bluetech Center, and his team for delivering a first edition that felt mature, relevant, and exceptionally well organized.

About BlueTech Center

For those not yet familiar, BlueTech Center is a maritime business and innovation cluster based in Svendborg, working to strengthen collaboration between shipping companies, technology providers, start-ups, educational institutions, and public stakeholders. The organization plays a key role in advancing maritime innovation, operational efficiency, and the green transition through knowledge sharing, events, and concrete industry partnerships.

The Bluetech Event itself is positioned as a practical, practitioner-focused meeting place, bringing together shipping companies, ferry operators, maritime technology suppliers, defence actors, and start-ups around one central question: How can we operate smarter, more efficiently, and at lower cost – using technology available today?

More information about the event can be found here: https://bluetechcenter.dk/bte-2/

Looking Ahead

I’ve already learned that the next Bluetech Event is planned for May 5, 2027. My advice is simple: reserve the date now. If this first edition is anything to go by, Bluetech Event is set to become a cornerstone event for the maritime industry in Denmark – and beyond.

This is one maritime event you truly do not want to miss!

By Jakob le Fevre, CEO, MARPRO Group