"If I can make a small, modest contribution to reorient the shipping industry towards a more Scandinavian approach, this could help to move us away from often somewhat random and quick-fix legislation applied to the shipping industry by the EU," says Niels Smedegaard, who in addition to serving as CEO of DFDS will also assume the chairman role in the European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) from January 2016.

In an interview with ShippingWatch, he says that ensuring a more proactive approach to cooperation between European shipowners and EU lawmakers is at the top of his agenda when he assumes office. An office he will hold for two years.