Norwegian Embassy News

The Portuguese cluster Forum Oceano and Norwegian Offshore Wind have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration between the supply chains in the two countries.The MoU aims to lay the ground work for new contracts between companies from the two countries.The agreement was signed at a reception this week, during a visit to Portugal organized by Norwegian Offshore Wind and The Norwegian Embassy in Portugal.Forum Oceano and Norwegian Offshore Wind both focus on developing a strong supply chain in floating offshore wind.

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) has adopted NavFleet as a fleet monitoring system platform provided by Navtor A.S., and witnessed by Norwegian Embassy in Japan, “K” Line signed a MoU with Navtor regarding the development of “K” Line 24/7/365 global fleet monitoring and support system through the use and functional expansion of NavFleet on August 25.Navtor is Norway-based company developing the maritime DX business that is well known as a provider of electronic navigational charts…

Japan-based shipping giant NYK has presented its concept for using ammonia as a marine fuel or zero-emission ships as part of the industry’s decarbonization drive.Ammonia does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2) when it is heated and would thus be expected to contribute to the effort to address global warming.In addition, if CO2-free hydrogen is used, zero emissions are said to be achieved. NYK is thus considering the use of ammonia as marine fuel, one of the solutions for decarbonization.The NYK Group is making efforts to create next-generation green businesses involving alternative marine fuels to realize decarbonization and the company’s basic philosophy of “Bringing value to life” and contributing to the betterment of societies.

Japanese shipping company NYK has signed  a long-term industrial research and development project agreement with Tromsø-based Dualog which aims to result in a cutting-edge Cyberrisk Management System for vessels.The project announced today at the Norwegian Embassy in Tokyo will receive two years of funding from the Norwegian government fund Innovation Norway.The agreement will see the development of digitized products and services across a test-bed of 50 vessels with a view to eventually being rolled out across NYKs self-operated fleet of 250 ships.The accord follows hot on the heels of a strategic partnership both companies signed in the summer of 2017…

Chinese power giant China Power International Holding (CPIH) and Norwegian energy firm Equinor have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on offshore wind projects off China and Europe.“China is rapidly increasing its use of renewables and natural gas. The country is set to become the world’s biggest offshore wind market by 2030. As an offshore wind major, Equinor is excited to collaborate with CPIH to develop offshore wind” says executive vice president New Energy Solutions, Pål Eitrheim.“CPIH, as a leading power generator in China, has been striving to develop its international strategy to become a pioneer of reliable energy provider worldwide.

Mario Mehren, CEO of Wintershall, Germany's largest crude oil and natural gas producer, has presented Wintershall’s growth plans in Norway during a visit by Norway's Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, to Berlin.Mehren announced a further increase in production during a discussion with the Prime Minister and representatives of German energy politics and the energy industry, which was held at the Norwegian Embassy."It has become clear during the last few weeks that Wintershall and DEA will become the company Wintershall DEA within the next year. As Europe's leading independent gas and oil producer, we will continue to expand our activities in Norway," said Mehren. "More competition is good for the Norwegian shelf.

With an annual gross tonnage capacity of more than 8.8 million, Bangladesh’s ship recycling industry is one of the world’s largest, second only to neighboring India in terms of volume. But for these countries ship recycling practices have long been a matter of concern, particularly in terms of safety and environmental sustainability. Now on the heels of completing its first phase of a project aiming to improve standards within the nation’s ship recycling industry, the Government…

wo new tankers, Nordic Star and Nordic Space, were named August 24 for owner Nordic American Tankers Limited (NAT). NAT founder and chairman Herbjørn Hansson was present at the naming ceremony, along with the chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Norwegian Embassy Marianne Damhaug, and the ships' two sponsors, Nordic American Offshore Ltd. executive vice chair Marianne Lie and Siv Helset, a Norwegian lawyer with experience with legal counseling in the industry. Ordered by NAT in December 2014, the two ships were built by South Korean shipbuilder Sungdong.

Less than a year after opening its first office in Asia, Norwegian e-navigation specialist NAVTOR is expanding in the region again - this time with a dedicated presence in Japan. NAVTOR Japan K.K. will help the firm, known for its simple, efficient and cost effective ENC distribution solutions, continue to roll out its European success worldwide, securing an important foothold in this key shipping arena. “The importance of Japan to shipping, and to suppliers that serve the industry, can’t be overstated,” comments Tor Svanes, NAVTOR CEO. “The market is established, stable and mature, but at the same time defined by owners and operators that invest in state-of-the-art technology, while focusing on absolutely optimal efficiency and operational security.

India and Norway closer to one another in questions related to Polar Research and a new proposal for polar research co-operation is on the anvil, reports Press Trust of India. The Norwegian Research Council and the Ministry of Earth Sciences in India will announce a new proposal for polar research very soon, Minister Counsellor at the Norwegian Embassy in India, Sigvald T Hauge said. This will further strengthen, we believe, the long-standing polar collaboration between the two countries. Indian scientists are carrying out important researches at the 'Himadri' Arctic research station in Svalbard in Norway. President Pranab Mukherjee…

E-navigation specialist NAVTOR has set course for Asia, with the news that the Egersund, Norway-based business has opened an office in Singapore. The move comes in response to growing regional demand for simple, efficient and cost effective ENC distribution solutions, as the IMO’s ECDIS Mandate continues its gradual roll out. In Europe, NAVTOR is already a recognised leader in ENC distribution and an e-navigation pioneer, holding a preferred supplier position with companies such as Hurtigruten, Teekay, DOF and RCL Cruises. Its ENC service, which is used by owners controlling more than 70% of the entire Norwegian offshore fleet, launched in 2012…

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger, the USCG’s Vice Commandant, presented the service’s 2014 Arctic priorities in support of the Coast Guard’s Arctic Strategy at an Arctic-shipping event sponsored by the Norwegian Embassy. The USCG’s Arctic Strategy is built around three strategic objectives: improve awareness, modernize governance and broaden partnerships in the Arctic region. “Where there are humans on the water, there is a demand for us to keep them safe and secure and ensure environmental responsibility,” said Neffenger.

The challenges of managing efficient procurement  processes and getting the right funding in the shipping and offshore sectors is the topic for a major half day conference in Singapore later this month. Coinciding with the Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) event on March 20, the Norwegian Procurement and Finance seminar is aimed at operators seeking to build vessels, capital goods or services within the shipping and offshore industries, or Norwegian exporters in these fields. The session will also see the release of a major report into procurement processes in Asia which was commissioned by the Norwegian Oil and Gas Partners (INTSOK) organization. The main findings will be revealed at the event.

Tschudi Shipping Co., one of Norway's oldest shipping firms, will begin exploring the possibility of establishing a transshipment port in western Alaska, Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell said today. Treadwell, who leads the state's work with the eight-nation Arctic Council, applauded Tschudi's decision, saying it is a tremendous step toward developing Alaska's economic opportunities related to Arctic shipping. Tschudi Shipping Co. is owned and operated by the fourth generation of the Tschudi family and operates shipping…

Norway became the first contracting State to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009, today, Wednesday, June 26. The Hong Kong Convention is aimed at ensuring that ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risk to human health and safety or to the environment. First Secretary Kristin Stockman, of the Royal Norwegian Embassy to the United Kingdom, deposited Norway’s instrument of accession at IMO headquarters.

Rising energy demand from Asia Pacific countries is a key factor driving the growth in regional offshore oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) activities. In response to this, The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Singapore, Innovation Norway in alliance with DNV and Norwegian Business Association (Singapore) is staging the Asia Offshore Technology Conference in Singapore. The conference will examine and draw practical conclusions about ‘The Challenges of Offshore E&P in Asia Pacific’. A specially commissioned report into the critical trends of the sector in the region will be unveiled at the half day event. The report, by consultants Douglas Westwood, was commissioned by leading Norwegian Classification Society Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Innovation Norway and the Norwegian Embassy, and Mr.

Increased energy demand due to rapid economic development is driving many Asia Pacific countries to reduce their dependency on imported oil and gas by upping local offshore exploration and production (E&P) activities. Responding to this reality, The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Singapore announced the free Asia Offshore Technology Conference  on Tuesday, April 16 in Singapore to assess ‘The Challenges of Offshore E&P in Asia Pacific’. A survey report analyzing key trends in the region’s E&P sector will be disclosed at the conference.

Top class society granted RO status at Tokyo ceremony. The Government of Norway officially recognized ClassNK as its newest Recognized Organization (RO) at a special signing ceremony held at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Tokyo on 8 November 2011. Deputy Minister Rikke Lind of Norway’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, and ClassNK Chairman & President Noboru Ueda signed the agreement, which grants the Tokyo-based classification society the authority to perform surveys and issue certificates for Norwegian flagged vessels.

Around 200 professionals from the shipping, logistics and liquefied natural gas development sectors converged on Singapore today to take part in the Sustainable Marine Transportation Conference organised by the Norwegian Embassy in Singapore and partners Innovation Norway and the Norwegian Business Association in Singapore. The global shipping industry’s carbon footprint has come under increasing scrutiny from governments, lobbyists and environmental protection agencies in recent times.

Examining key industry drivers is the focus of the 17th annual Hellenic-American and Norwegian-American Chambers of Commerce annual conference, often called the New York Shipping Conference. Entitled “Challenges & Opportunities for the Shipping Industry: Is There a New Normal?” the conference will present the macro shipping and economic overview, the impact of increasing environmental regulation on the shipping market, the availability of capital and its many forms, the growing influence of China and India on Shipping, and shipowners’ points of view. The event will be held on Tuesday, February 8th at the Waldorf-Astoria (a new venue for this event) starting at 0815 with conference registration and coffee.

Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon Magnus, opened StatoilHydro's and the Norwegian Embassy in Mexico’s 120-photo exhibition, Norway Powered by Nature, on Monday 16 March. The exhibition, which lines the outside of Chapultepec Park and the Reform Avenue in Mexico City, shows Norway through the four seasonal changes with a special emphasis on the oil and gas industry. The photo exhibition will be open to the public for one month, and all photo text is presented in both English and Spanish.