Recap 2025
In 2025 we celebrated the ten-year anniversary of our community. In the past ten years RMSC grew considerably, which provides our members with regular opportunities to strengthen ties within the maritime sector. Such opportunities range from other business services providers who provide complementary services, to members of our partner organisations that we co-operate with to organise events.
We look back on a successful anniversary during 2025, which commenced with our anniversary drinks in the Maritime Museum, and also included an invitation by the Port of Rotterdam for a cruise on board of the Nieuwe Maze. Also, for the first time our members participated in a RMSC-themed podcast, highlighting the first ten years of RMSC, the future of our sector with Young RMSC, and challenges in the field of human capital. Besides these lustrum activities, we organised a number of events in Rotterdam and two events abroad, in Oslo during Norshipping and in London during the International Shipping Week. The latter events were organised with our partner organisations and gave our members a podium to demonstrate the vibrancy and viability of the services community in Rotterdam.
The end of the year also provides a good moment to look forward. Recently the Port of Rotterdam published its Port Vision 2050, laying out the opportunities and challenges ahead. A number of those challenges translate to opportunities for our members. The Port sees the importance of strengthening the innovation and investment climate, which we as service providers are uniquely suited to support. Also, the labour market remains a challenge, therefore providing opportunities for our members active in education but equally of importance to every member of the community.
The ten-year anniversary also gave reason to the board to take stock of our strategy over the last years, and formulate new goals. Together with the Advisory Board and the Municipality, the board is working on a five year plan to better accommodate the wishes and needs of our members, and strengthen the Rotterdam maritime services community even further. The second decade, therefore, looks promising indeed!
On behalf of the board, I want to thank everyone who helped making last year a memorable one and we look forward to making 2026 even more sucesfull!
Erik Witjens
