Nor-Shipping 2011 More Popular Than Ever

Nor-Shipping 2011 was more popular than ever with a record 16,235 visitors coming to the exhibition venue, an increase of 4 percent from the previous event two years earlier and the largest turnout since Nor-Shipping began in 1965.

A total of 17,298 exhibitor delegates from 54 countries participated in the four-day event, which closed on May 27. In addition to the 16,235 visitors, this resulted in a total turnout of 33,533 delegates to the exhibition, which also featured 22 national pavilions and 5 “theme parks”.

“This was the best Nor-Shipping ever,” said Tollef Schiander, Director for Nor-Shipping. “This signifies the importance of Norway as a maritime nation and innovator in technology, and this year’s conferences highlighted the enormous opportunities Brazil and other offshore hotspots have to offer the maritime industry.”

The Conferences

The Nor-Shipping 2011 conferences featured presentations by both new and established maritime leaders that drew standing-room-only audiences.

The Opening Conference on Tuesday, May 24, which attracted an audience of 675, featured heavyweights such as Tor Olav Trøim of Frontline, Peter Evensen of Teekay Corporation and Peter M. Anker of RS Platou as well as the new generation of leaders, including Thomas Wilhelmsen of the Wilhelmsen Group and Cecilie Fredriksen, the daughter of Norway-born shipping tycoon John Fredriksen.

José Sergio Gabrielli, CEO of Brazilian oil giant Petrobras, stole the show at the Agenda Offshore conference on Wednesday, May 25, which drew an audience of 725. This was Nor-Shipping’s first-ever offshore conference, signifying the increasing importance of the offshore oil and gas industry to shipping.

The theme of Nor-Shipping 2011 was “What’s Next?” and award-winning journalist and CNN analyst Todd Benjamin led lively roundtable discussions on Next-Generation Business and Next-Generation Leaders on the first day and The Future After Deepwater Horizon and Next-Generation Technology on the second day.

Winners of awards that showcase industry excellence were also announced at the Opening Conference. The 2011 Clean Ship Award went to Vale S.A. for the Vale Brasil and the 2011 Next Generation Ship Award was awarded to Rolls-Royce Marine AS for its “Environship Concept”.

The Campus Event

Nearly 10,000 people stopped by the four-day Campus event at City Hall Square in the heart of Oslo aimed at recruiting young, bright minds to the maritime industry. More than a thousand students a day attended this first-ever Nor-Shipping event to learn more about the career opportunities the industry has to offer.

Another first for Nor-Shipping was Brazil Day on Wednesday, May 25. In addition to Gabrielli’s presentation, the day included a seminar on business opportunities for Norwegian suppliers in the country, a Brazilian tax forum and a speed-dating session. A Brazilian Party topped off the day.

“After closing the doors, we’re going full speed ahead towards Nor-Shipping 2013. We’re off to a good start with 50 percent of the exhibition space already sold,” Schiander said.

To see videos of presentations from the Nor-Shipping conferences, please click on the following YouTube link: http//youtube.nextgenerationshipping.com/