Aftenposten News

Ulstein, now a century old, has spent the last 100 years looking to the future. Since its formation on August 9, 1917 in Ulsteinvik, Norway, the family-owned shipbuilder, designer and systems supplier said it has focused on tomorrow’s opportunities today. Over the years, Ulstein has evolved through innovation and pioneered trailblazing solutions, driven by its desire to meet shifting customer demands, commercial openings and market challenges head-on. There isn’t much that remains the same in a century of operation…

Plans for a huge tunnel for ships if given approval would be the first such tunnel in the world and could become a major tourist attraction. If approved, reports newspaper Aftenposten, the tunnel will be built at Stad in the county of Sogn and Fjordane on Norway’s west coast. The stretch of sea along this northern part of the west coast, and around the West Cape, is notoriously treacherous for ships. The idea of building a tunnel here has been in the development stages since the 1980s.

The marine electronics world lost a pioneer with the passing of Willy Simonsen on December 4, 2003. Simonsen, who was 90 years old, was the co-founder and driving force behind Simrad, a company that is today part of the Kongsberg Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of marine electronics. It was in 1947 in postwar Norway that Simonsen joined with John Mustad (of Mustad fishhook fame) to form Simonsen Radio AS in Oslo, Norway. In the beginning, the partners focused on manufacturing high quality radio telephones.

The marine electronics world lost a pioneer with the passing of Willy Simonsen on December 4, 2003. Simonsen, who was 90 years old, was the co-founder and driving force behind Simrad, a company that is today part of the Kongsberg Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of marine electronics. It was in 1947 in postwar Norway that Simonsen joined with John Mustad (of Mustad fishhook fame) to form Simonsen Radio AS in Oslo, Norway. In the beginning, the partners focused on manufacturing high quality radio telephones.

Indecision from Russia regarding help from foreign nations in aiding efforts to rescue an estimated 118 sailors trapped in a Nuclear submarine lying on the bottom of the Barents Sea evaporated today, as Norway said that divers due to join a British bid to save 118 Russian sailors trapped in a submarine on the bed of the Barents Sea would arrive on Saturday. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said on Thursday the situation around the sunken nuclear submarine Kursk was "next to catastrophic", but he hoped chances remained to save its 118 crew, Russian news agencies reported. "During the past night there were no changes for better or worse," Interfax news agency quoted Kasyanov as telling a government meeting.

Indecision from Russia regarding help from foreign nations in aiding efforts to rescue an estimated 118 sailors trapped in a Nuclear submarine lying on the bottom of the Barents Sea evaporated today, as Norway said that divers due to join a British bid to save 118 Russian sailors trapped in a submarine on the bed of the Barents Sea would arrive on Saturday. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said on Thursday the situation around the sunken nuclear submarine Kursk was "next to catastrophic", but he hoped chances remained to save its 118 crew, Russian news agencies reported. "During the past night there were no changes for better or worse," Interfax news agency quoted Kasyanov as telling a government meeting.

A chemical tanker controlled by Norwegian shipowning firm Odfjell has run aground off Indonesia. Odfjell reported that its chemical tanker Bow Star ran aground after leaving the Indonesian port of Batam. There were no injuries and the vessel's double hull was believed capable of preventing any environmental damage. There was no cause given for the grounding. The 39,832-dwt Bow Star was built in 2004 at Poland's Szczecin shipyard. Odfjell said it has Norwegian officers on board and a Filipino crew. Source: Aftenposten

Three of the popular cruise-ferries that ply Norway's coastal route from Bergen to Kirkenes are targeted to be pulled out of service if a ferry strike spreads. The vessels will be affected by a strike that started over the weekend and is gradually spreading around the country. The Norwegian officers' union recently warned that the strike will spread from midnight on May 20. The three vessels in the so-called Hurtigruten, or "Coastal Voyage" line, include the MS Nordkapp, MS Lofoten and MS Trollfjord. The strike would disrupt sailings just as the busy summer tourist season is getting underway. Several other local ferries and fast ferries along Norway's coast will also be idled, including the key Halsa-Kanestraum ferry crossing on the E39 highway between Molde and Trondheim.

Norwegian shipping investment company NorFerries said it wanted to buy Finnish ferry company Silja Line from US-stocklisted Sea Containers. Silja Line runs ferries in the Baltic, mostly from Helsinki to Sweden and Estonia. The ferry line carried around five million passengers last year. NorFerries, known mostly for setting up routes for cargo ships and passenger ferries, is offering $671m for Silja Line. Bermuda-based Sea Containers said last year that it wanted to sell off Silja Line and its other ferry operations to stem losses. NorFerries' bid is expected to be challenged by Silja Line's rivals in the Baltic, Tallink and Viking Line. Both have said they're interested in buying Silja as well. (Source: Aftenposten)

Aker Maritime, which wants wide-ranging link-ups with Kvaerner, proposed a new board for Kvaerner before a corporate showdown on Friday. Aker, the top shareholder in Kvaerner with 17.8 percent, put forward Pehr Gyllenhammar, chairman of Britain's biggest insurance group CGNU, as chairman of its proposed board. Kvaerner has said it opposes Aker's plans for link-ups. Gyllenhammar said he hoped he could help resolve the clash between the two Norwegian industrial groups but stressed he would be independent. "The new board will have a completely free rein to assess the best strategy for Kvaerner," he said. Last month, Kvaerner's own election committee proposed a new board led by former Christiania Bank chairman Harald Arnkvaern.