On October 18^th and 19^th representatives from all over Europe and the European Commission converged on Schengen (Luxembourg) at the occasion of the 8^th yearly meeting of the European Network of Maritime Clusters. The maritime clusters of Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and Ireland delegated their respective managements there.

LuxSpace Sarl, an affiliate of OHB AG and partner of Orbcomm Inc. announced the award of a multi-year framework contract with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The framework contract is funded for up to 500.000 € (US $625.000) for the first year plus options for an additional two years with funding levels yet to be determined.

On October 7^th 2012, EU Ministers responsible for maritime affairs agreed and adopted a political declaration which aims at re-energising the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP), five years after its initial launching in Lisbon. The Limassol Declaration was presented on October 8^th at a special ceremony in Limassol by Cyprus’ Communications and Works Minister, Mr. Efthemios Flourentzou, in the attendance of the President of Cyprus Mr. Demetris Christofias and the President of the European Commission, Mr. José Manuel Barroso. The Limassol Declaration is expected to mark a milestone for the future implementation and development of the EU’s IMP, by providing guidelines for a comprehensive and coherent approach to the maximum sustainable exploitation of the EU’s seas and oceans for achieving economic growth.

In 2012 Luxembourg will again participate with an official booth at the Monaco Yacht Show, the most prestigious pleasure boat show in the world. From September 19 to 22 this event will bring together 500 major companies in the luxury yachting and a hundred super and megayachts afloat as well as an expected 28 000 professional and private visitors.

On the 7^th September 2012, a Memorandum of Agreement concerning the recognition of the training and certification of seafarers from Mexico, for service on Luxembourg flagged vessels was officially finalized between the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transports and the Luxembourg maritime Administration.

On June 28^th2012, Mr. Etienne Schneider, Minister of the Economy and Foreign Trade was received for a visit at the headquarters of Jan De Nul Group in Capellen just outside Luxembourg-City.

The report covering three years of Maritime Cluster Activity (2009-2010-2011) has been published.

At the yearly convention of the industry organisations Australian Constructors Association and Engineers Australia, Jan De Nul Group together with its local partner Baulderstone received the prestigious “Australian Construction Achievement Award 2012”.

New maritime related grand-ducal regulations have been published in the Memorial, the official journal in Luxembourg.

A micro satellite « made in Luxembourg » by LuxSpace

The company LuxSpace, based in Luxembourg, announced on 9 January 2012, the successful launch of VesselSat2, an Automatic Identification Service (AIS) enabled satellite. VesselSat2 was launched by the China Great Wall Industry Corporation from the Tiayuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) in the Shanxi Province of the People’s Republic of China on 8 January 2012 at 10:17 PM EST.