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The eyes of a sports-starved world will be on the Euro 2020 tournament playing out across Europe which kicked off on Friday 11th June. Copenhagen-based shipping organisation BIMCO has tried to predict the winner based on shipping factors. However it points out, “If the result was decided by Covid-19, anything can happen as several national football teams have already seen the supply of their top footballers disrupted by the pandemic, much like many shippers ordering containerised goods produced in the Far East for shipments to any destination. The unexpected next move of the pandemic can happen anywhere, any time; disrupting on the pitch as well as ports world-wide.”
According to the bookmakers, the least likely winner of the tournament is North Macedonia, which is probably the European country with the smallest amount of seaborne shipping too. If handling the most seaborne freight by gross weight is to decide the Championship then the Netherlands would enjoy a comfortable victory, taking the trophy after beating Italy and Spain.
If the largest vessel orderbook held by a single country determines the winning team, Switzerland would come out on top, but if holding the largest fleet by gross tonnage decided the outcome Germany would come first. This may be a surprise winner to some, but Germany would take home the trophy simply because Greece, which controls the world’s largest fleet, failed to qualify for the finals. If having the largest ship recycling capacity decides the Championship then Turkey would take a maiden win.
“The shipping industry is loaded with winners. Some very obvious ones and some less known to the general public,” says Peter Sand, BIMCO’s Chief Shipping Analyst. “Go on yourself and find out in which maritime way your favourites would become Champions of Europe. Could it be most cargo moved on inland waterways? Largest oil import terminal? Or perhaps the largest grain export facility,” asks Sand, a keen football fan. Let us know how you plan to pick the winner!
