No, they are not ship-owners, except if you mean small fishing boats. But my wife's oldest uncle has been sailing since he was 14 - sent away due to poverty and divorce after the war, and I guess that in Denmark there is some respect for sailors. It was and still is an important part of your identity.
I found some small bits of Traumschiff on Youtube. Part of my childhood we had German television so it felt quite nostalgic :)
I see. Yes, understand what you say about the identity.. same in northern Germany.
Haha.. we watch it too every now and then. Trip down memory lane... and like I said, much better ship and destinations than I had ;-)