Norway shows the way

Like all the major maritime events, and our own Seawork is no exception, Nor-Shipping will not lie down and give up in the face of economic difficulties. In fact, looking at the optimistic air surrounding Nor-Shipping, any commentator would think that the economic difficulties – if they ever existed – are well and truly over.

And for our industry in Norway, in many ways they are. Unlike certain other European nations, Norway has always placed a high value on its maritime community, or the ‘maritime cluster’ as the Norwegians put it. There seems to be no shortage of recognition in high places; with a dynamic trade minister (whom we had the pleasure of meeting in Oslo recently) who takes a particular interest in our industry, various government- and industry-led initiatives to aid innovation and development, and above all a broad-minded industry willing to look to the future, and opportunities out of their comfort zone in other regions.

Innovation and expertise is Norway’s strength. It’s a small country in terms of population, with a long, but difficult, coastline, not a lot in the way of natural resources (other than mountains and snow) and high costs, but as a maritime nation it’s second to none. Its biggest strength is its offshore industry, something that tends to be looked down on by the ocean-going merchant shipping fraternity – even in Norway; it’s only this year that Nor-Shipping has given the sector the recognition it deserves. And with that sector so prominent in emerging markets like Brazil, and showing the way for new Arctic shipping routes, it is a big asset to the whole country.

We’ve long held the idea that it’s in the smaller (under 100m long) sector that many of the most innovative ideas can be found, and so we have been happy to promote advanced offshore vessels, and their machinery and equipment, as well as high speed light weight shipping. It seems that we are in good company, and we salute the Norwegian maritime cluster.