Oslo has opened up to shipping executives from all over the world once again as Nor-Shipping began on Monday morning.
The Norwegian conference and exhibition is back after nearly three years and two postponements to become the first major shipping gathering since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
Norway is a traditional shipping powerhouse, with VesselsValue research for TradeWinds estimating the Norwegian-controlled fleet to be worth $42bn.
But this is only enough to rank at number 14 on the world list.
In terms of fleet size, the country is ninth with 1,618 vessels.
Tankers, bulkers, small dry cargo ships and offshore assets make up 82.7% of the Norwegian fleet.
The most valued fleets are controlled by energy major Equinor at $4bn, LNG carrier specialist Knutsen OAS Shipping on $3.85bn and car carrier giant Wallenius Wilhelmsen, with ships worth $2.91bn.
The top 10 Norwegian shipowners account for $21.08bn of the total — about 50%.
Wilson controls the largest fleet in terms of numbers, with 122 small bulkers worth $506m.
China tops both charts with 5,465 ships worth $135bn, with Singapore second with 3,561 vessels worth $123bn.
Russians absent
Representatives from all of the big shipowning countries will be present this week, but there will be no Russian exhibitors this time, due to the war in Ukraine.
The event had been due to take place from 10 to 13 January, after being pushed back from last June because of the pandemic.
But the spread of the new Omicron variant put paid to those dates.
Nor-Shipping director Sidsel Norvik said the event provides a much-needed platform to connect, share knowledge and build partnerships capable of tackling both the opportunities and challenges on the business horizon.
The most important Nor-Shipping ever
“I’m looking forward to welcoming the world to what, I think, is going to be the most important Nor-Shipping we’ve ever held,” she said.
“After such a long period of digital meetings and isolation, the energy and enthusiasm we’re bound to see from face-to-face meetings will be something special.”
The Monday morning conference will see 900 executives watch speakers including Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former secretary general of Nato and prime minister of Denmark; Kitack Lim, secretary general of the IMO; and Kjerstin Braathen, chief executive of lender DNB.
Jan Ole Huseby, global head of ocean industries at DNB, said he is keen to feel a sense of community once more, rubbing shoulders with clients and colleagues from around the world.
“It was a very wise move postponing Nor-Shipping to April, allowing enough time for restrictions to lift and borders to open,” he said. “Now we can get down to business.”
