Dear all!
As Chair of the Board, I have the honor and privilege to write to all of you and wish you a safe and happy New Year. In Norway, we say ‘takk for det gamle’ which translates into ‘thank you for the old’ (the past) after New Year to express our gratitude to each other for all we have done together in the past year. This message is a ‘takk for det gamle’ from me on behalf of the Odfjell Board of Directors.
I first want to express gratitude for our stellar safety performance at sea and ashore. We keep delivering industry-leading performance, which indicates a commitment to a safe workplace and safe work processes.
This attitude of caring about yourself and each other’s well-being is essential in building our safety culture. Safety is a mission where we can never rest because new circumstances require us to prepare for not only known but also new and unknown risks.
We also are continually recruiting and preparing new colleagues to join our team. In recent years, we have increased the number of female recruits. This requires that we also change from being a Band of Brothers to becoming a Band of Brothers and Sisters that makes sure we all take care of each other. We all have the right to have a safe workplace.
In 2023, we have seen geopolitical tensions rise, and sadly, the world is experiencing numerous active, tragic wars and conflicts. Our number one priority is to keep our seafarers safe and out of harm’s way. We have also maintained our high ethical standards by avoiding business with aggressors.
We can only hope that peace will soon return.
In 2023, we also continued to deliver industry-leading performance on fuel efficiency, thereby reducing our carbon emissions.
Our commitment to a net zero future is stronger than ever and we will continue to innovate because we have world-class expertise in-house. I am grateful for all actions, small and large, that contribute to us working today for a better tomorrow.
Our terminals are also preparing for the future by expanding. These expansions are being delivered successfully and safely while the terminals have had to continue operating without compromising safety. Thank you to all who have contributed to increased safety vigilance under these challenging circumstances.
2024 will be another important year for Odfjell in our objective to restore our strength and market share. However, as long as we keep our eyes on our underlying operations, stay commercially sharp, keep caring for each other, and retain our lead in the field of sustainability, I am confident about our near- and long-term future.
With our ever-more sophisticated tools combined with a spirit of teamwork across disciplines, I look forward to participating in this winning collaboration. Our success is a result of how well we all work together - and there is nothing more gratifying than a team win. So to all of you on the Odfjell Team:
Takk for det gamle!
And stay safe, always.
Laurence Odfjell
Chair, Odfjell SE
