Nor-Shipping is a tailormade arena to learn about new developments, new products and new solutions for the shipping industry. At the Nor-Shipping 22,500 sq.m. exhibition center, 1,000 companies – from startups to the big players – demoed their products and solutions, while 17 national pavilions offered insights in their clusters and markets.
Among the exhibitors were about 200 of Odfjell’s vendors, of these around 50 partners. Naturally, Tankers, IT, Ship Management, and the Procurement team in particular, have the most hectic and efficient days on the job – meeting vendors, sharing experiences with colleagues from other companies, and get updated on the latest products, trends and innovations.
In other halls, broad programs of round table discussions, speeches and debates covered everything from digitalization and technology, global and local prospects, diversity, talent development, green economy and more.
Technical Superintendent Alessio Contran took part of Wärtsilä’s ‘Future Innovation Day – Horizons’ event, described as nothing less than “maritime stalwarts, governmental institutions, students and civil society riffing together to formulate futuristic yet pragmatic ways to transition to green shipping”.
COS Øistein Jensen contributed on stage in two conferences: Digital Ship’s ‘Maritime Digitalization’ and Youngship’s ‘Young@Nor-Shipping’. The latter event gathered 100 young shipping professionals for an informal session about digital transformation in shipping, and Odfjell was joined on stage by DNV GL, Kongsberg Digital and Osprey Solutions.
Øistein focused on the Odfjell digital journey, and the value we have seen from analyzing and presenting high-quality data, and surprised the audience when he threw off his tie and shirt to reveal a Data Liberation Front t-shirt – underlining the changing phases that the shipping industry goes through these days. Øistein pointed out that we need to liberate the data from each different silo system, and make them available for broader analysis and sharing.
Odfjell’s work on digitalization was also the key topic for Øistein’s talk at Digital Ships’ Maritime Digitalization conference. The conference highlighted topics such as vessel monitoring, cyber security, satellite communications, performance monitoring, game-changing technology – “what works and what doesn’t”. Representatives from our Odfjell and Digital Innovation Group was also present at the conference Øistein presented Odfjell’s work on digitalization, with a special focus on data and data driven decisions. He also moderated a panel discussion on the collaboration between business and IT.
VP Brasil, Knut Øvrebø, took part of an on-stage panel at the Brasil@Nor-Shipping event, discussing the role of the shipping industry towards climate change, what we can expect from shipowners and the importance of new technologies. The debate was led by Environmental Director at the Norwegian Shipowner’s Association Gunnar Malm Gamlem, and Knut was joined on stage by Christian Fjell, Sustainability Manager at Teekay and Knut Ola Skotvedt, DNB Senior Vice President for Ocean Industries.
Odfjell’s initiatives on recruitment of Norwegian cadets and registering more ships under the Norwegian flag have not gone unnoticed. As the only shipowner on stage, COO Harald Fotland was specially invited to the ‘Quality Flag Reception’, hosted by the Norwegian Maritime Authority, the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The hosts, led by Minister Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, underlined the importance of securing a viable and sustainable shipping industry. Harald continued by highlighting how the government’s incentives influence Odfjell’s competitiveness, especially by laying the grounds for recruitment. He introduced two of our cadets attending, Even Reiersølmoen and soon to be 3rd Engineer Erik Thorvaldsen, who was specially invited by the Ministry to represent Norwegian cadets at the reception.
Prior to Nor-Shipping, Harald took part of a video for the Norwegian Maritime Authority, explaining some of the reasons why Odfjell chooses to fly the Norwegian flag on our ships.
No Nor-Shipping is complete without awards, and this year VP Fleet Management Knut Erik Fredriksen had the honor of receiving the U.S. Coast Guard’s Amver awards for our commitment to safety at sea by being available to assist in rescue activities anywhere in the world.
“Mariners helping mariners is the most effective and the most appropriate insurance. The U.S. Coast Guard’s Amver Program is an invaluable example of international emergency and humanitarian cooperation for others to follow," said Rear Admiral Kenneth J. Braithwaite, USN (Ret); U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway.
During this week in Oslo, IR Manager Bjørn Kristian Røed and Executive Management also welcomed investors and analysts to our Capital Markets Day.
