Nor-Shipping in Oslo in April is taking place under special conditions in several respects. The Corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine are keeping the industry busy. But the trade fair and the conference programme also deal with important topics for the future.[ds_preview]
Geopolitical developments and how to adjust to them, will be centre stage at the Nor-Shipping Ocean Leadership Conference on 4 April in Lillestrøm.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former Secretary General of NATO and Prime Minister of Denmark, will be the headline speaker, while the overall event will focus on the central themes of people, power and money. A host of other shipping, political and business names will take to the stage to share insights with an audience of around 900 C-level maritime executives.
»This will be the first major gathering of its kind for our industry since the pandemic began, and it couldn’t be more timely,« comments Sidsel Norvik, Director, Nor-Shipping. »The world order is being disrupted, economic activity is impacted and we all need an understanding of how these events occur, and what the potential fallouts are for sustainable maritime and ocean industry development.«
The keynote speaker is, of course, highly relevant, but there is also a »who is who« of leading industry names on stage to give their insights into today’s developments, and tomorrow’s plans. »Now is the time when we need to gather, share knowledge, collaborate and find the optimal paths forward together. Now is the time for true leadership – in the ocean and beyond«, Norvik says.
Taking #Action
Alongside the former NATO head, a diverse array of speakers and panellists have confirmed their participation on the stage in Hall E. They include Kitack Lim, Secretary General IMO, Kjerstin Braathen, CEO DNB, Bjørnar Selnes Skjæran, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Norway, Håkan Agnevall, President & CEO Wärtsilä Corporation, Magda Kopczynska, Director for Innovative and Sustainable Mobility DG MOVE, and Knut Arild Hareide, Director General of Navigation and Shipping, Norwegian Maritime Authority, amongst others. The individual conference sessions support the main Nor-Shipping 2022 theme of taking positive business #ACTION within the ocean space.
Global gathering
Nor-Shipping 2022 takes place 4–7 April in Oslo and Lillestrøm. Alongside the main 22,000 m² exhibition halls key events include Technical Seminars, the International Ship Autonomy and Sustainability Summit, the Blue Talks, the Young@Nor-Shipping programme, the Blue Economy Start-up Day, the Quality Flag Forum, Brazil@Nor-Shipping, the Maritime Hydrogen Conference.
The last Nor-Shipping, which took place in 2019, attracted some 50,000 international participants and exhibitors from over 60 countries.
Stakeholders in the hydrogen value chain will gather on 6 April for a conference dedicated to assessing, demystifying and enabling developments within the maritime field. Organised by Ocean Hyway Cluster, a specialist Norwegian trade body, The Maritime Hydrogen Conference will discuss collaboration, infrastructure demands and technology in an effort to share knowledge and support progress. The conference takes place in the Blue Economy Hall in Lillestrøm.
Big picture insights
»This conference is about working together to unlock collective industry benefits,« comments Maria Brandsøy, Business Opportunity Manager, Ocean Hyway Cluster. »Hydrogen has huge potential for maritime, but it can be challenging to see the ›big picture‹ and determine the optimal path forwards. We need to look at many different areas in parallel, working in partnerships across the industry, and beyond, to innovate, mitigate risk and develop the necessary technology and infrastructure.«
No one can do this in isolation, she adds. »That’s why initiatives like this are so crucial – providing access to unique insights from pioneering people and companies, building networks and helping deliver answers to the big future fuel questions.«
Industry leaders
The conference is split into three main sessions looking at partnership-based models, infrastructure (from both a shipowner and energy supplier perspective) and an analysis of internal combustion engines versus fuel cells. The programme runs from 11.30, with an informal drinks and networking session rounding the day off between 16.00 and 17.00.
Speakers and panelists include Knut Nyborg, CEO, Aker Clean Hydrogen, Torben Norgaard, Head of Energy and Fuels, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Christian Berg, Director Bunkering Market, Yara Clean Ammonia, Maria Bos, CEO, Plug, Gitte Gaard Talmo, CEO, Eidesvik, Jørgen Kopperstad, VP Maritime Opportunities, Saga Pure, Ronny Haufe, CEO, CCB Energy Holding.
Nerendra Pal, Director of Hydrogen Technology at San Francisco based Hornblower, will also be among the keynote speakers, sharing his experience in designing and building Sea Change, the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell ferry.
Driving progress
Sidsel Norvik says: »The fact we can now run this physically, and safely, with no restrictions on numbers or social distancing requirements, will provide a perfect arena for stakeholders to meet and form the relationships that will be crucial in driving the progress we need to see for a sustainable future.«
Blue Talks series
In the Blue Talks series of panel discussions CEOs, industry heads and key ocean stakeholders are preparing to »supercharge change«.
The 12 talks take place in the Blue Economy Hall at Nor-Shipping’s Lillestrøm exhibition facilities, with hour-long sessions focusing on future strategies, solutions and building partnerships capable of delivering sustainable ocean success. The programme is said to offer »an unmissable opportunity« to see »an industry A-list debating how to transform ocean ambition into reality.«
»If you take a look at the pedigree of the participants, you can understand why the Blue Talks are generating so much interest,« Norvik explains. »Everyone from leading business CEOs, to regulators, the heads of cluster organisations, NGO chiefs, and more, are taking to the stage to discuss topics that are tailored to help the audience understand developments and enable progress.«
»Knowledge is power«
Amongst the standout talks is Financing Transformation, which brings together names including Øivind Amundsen, CEO, Euronext, Tone Lunde Bakker, CEO, Export Finance Norway and Andreas Enger, CEO, Höegh Autoliners, to discuss changing trends, demands and opportunities in accessing the funds to facilitate the future.
For those looking to unlock value from new collaborations, partnerships, and ways of working, Cross Industry Collaboration and System Change sheds light on how individual players can come together to take control of change. Panellists include Paul Holthus, CEO, World Ocean Council, Rolf Thore Roppestad, CEO of Gard, and Ingvild Sæther, President and CEO, Altera Infrastructure Group.
New solutions will be under the spotlight in Scaling Novel Ideas from Concept to Commercial Success. Audience members can tap into unique insights from, amongst others, Hege Økland, CEO, NCE Maritime CleanTech, Joshua Berger, CEO, Washington Maritime Blue, and Yoshioka Tatsuya, Founder and Director, Peace Boat Group.
Next generation ship award
In whatever form visitors and exhibitors come together, the tradition of maritime awards will maintain. In mid December, the organizers released details of the four vessels on the shortlist for the »Next Generation Ship Award«.
The prize, to be awarded at Nor-Shipping’s Opening Ceremony is known as a highlight of »Your Arena for Ocean Solutions«, having previously been won by Color Line’s »Color Hybrid« in 2017 for example. This year will see Höegh Autoliner’s »Aurora«, Havila Voyages’ »Havila Capella«, Sea-Cargo’s retrofit project »SC Connector«, and Wallenius’ »Sleipner« design fight it out for the accolade.
»It’s been a challenging year for the industry, and society in general,« comments Norvik, »but the disruption hasn’t impacted upon the speed of innovation – and the depth of ambition – defining the maritime world at present. These four vessels are the embodiment of that drive, demonstrating breakthrough technology that has the potential to set new standards for owners and operators worldwide. There can only be one winner, but they should all be applauded.«
Newbuild or Retrofit?
The award aims to shine a global spotlight on maritime innovation. It is open to any newbuild set to be delivered up to January 2025, or for conversions or retrofits completed since the last Nor-Shipping in 2019. Key criteria for assessment include energy efficiency, innovation, suitability and flexibility, technology utilisation, safety and security, and environmental sustainability, with an expert international jury deliberating over what Norvik calls »a hugely impressive« field of contenders.
However, four entries eventually stood out. Höegh Autoliners’ »Aurora« design will be the largest and greenest PCTC ever built, boasting DNV’s new ammonia and methanol ready notations. It will offer 60 % lower CO2 emissions per nautical mile and car equivalent unit (CEU) compared to a standard car carrier.
Coastal cruise ferry »Havila Capella« is set to be powered by battery and liquid natural gas, cutting CO2 emissions by around 25% and NOx emissions by 80–95%. The battery packs are the world’s largest on board a ship, with an output of 6.1 MW.
The new »Sleipner« design from Wallenius has been conceived with a variety of smart solutions to reduce environmental impact. These include multi-fuel engines, batteries, a shore connection and a design that eliminates the need for ballast water.
Last, but not least, the 1997 built »SC Connector« has been selected for a retrofit of two tiltable rotor sails and a battery pack energy storage system. As a result, the »SC Connector« has reduced its annual fuel consumption and emissions by up to 25%. (ED)
