In his speech at the ceremony dinner, COO Harald Fotland highlighted that these four sister ships mark a milestone in Odfjell’s history. Built to the highest specifications and with the most sophisticated equipment available on the market.
“Our customers require predictability and reliability: Their products need to arrive on time and on specification. Odfjell takes pride in delivering high-quality services. This is appreciated by our customers – many have been with us for more than 30 years. This loyalty is something that we must earn, and we earn it through safe and reliable operations day after day, year after year. These new buildings are important contributors to our safe and reliable services.”
Fotland also took the opportunity to give a special thanks to the site team:
“I would also like to thank the site team for their thorough follow-up of the various building processes. You are the ship owner’s representative on site. It is your job to verify that the vessels are built to our specifications and requirements. This is a job that you have done to our full satisfaction.”
Lady sponsor of Bow Odyssey, Christine Rødsæther, is a partner in Simonsen Vogt Wiig law firm, with international shipping, restructurings, banking and finance as practice areas. She is one of the most experienced members of the Odfjell board, having served since 2010.
“To be the lady sponsor of the world's most efficient, largest, sophisticated and eco-friendly super segregator is indeed a great honor and a role for which I am very proud and truly grateful. In particular, I would therefore like to thank Odfjell, represented here today by Harald Fotland, most sincerely for this opportunity. As a board member of Odfjell for ten years, I supported and approved the choice of Hudong Ship Yard to build Bow Odyssey and the three sister vessels, and there is no doubt that this was the right decision.”
Christine Rødsæther
Lady sponsor of Bow Optima, Linna Fan, is the Deputy Head of Shipping at the Bank of Communications Financial Leasing in China. When working on the lease financing of our 49,000 dwt newbuilds, Fan was the key internal legal counsel.
“It is my great pleasure to be selected as the lady sponsor of the beautiful vessel Bow Optima. I am deeply honored that Odfjell and my employer Bocom Leasing have given me this opportunity. I wish the vessel and her crew smooth winds, calm seas and ample water under her keel and always a safe return to her destination.”
Linna Fan
The Shipboard Management Team of both ships were naturally invited to the ceremony, and greeted the naming of their new homes at sea. The teams are:
Bow Odyssey
Captain Francisco Colomer
Chief Officer Francis Sydney Barrientos
Chief Engineer Allan Barrieta
Second Engineer Roland James Biantan
Bow Optima
Captain Eirik Kittelsen (not present at the ceremony)
Chief Officer Christoffer Gundersen
Chief Engineer Per Jarle Bjorøy
Second Engineer Aleksander Johansen
The winner of the naming competition, Chief Officer Ralph H. Tolentino was specially invited to witness that the names were formally revealed on two of the four ships. As he said when entering the competition:
“The names define greatness, most effective, extreme and the best of their kind.”
Welcome to Odfjell, Bow Optima and Bow Olympus!
