ANNUAL REPORT 2025
REPORT FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shipping & Offshore Network was established in 1981 as Bulkforum and changed its name in 2013.
In 2018 we launched the Maritime Oslofjord Alliance, an alliance with Oslo Shipowners’ Association and Ocean Industry Forum Oslofjord. The Alliance has its own website www.maritimeoslofjord.no. With our association being the international one of the three, we are also looking to attract more members from abroad, particularly from the Nordic and Baltic countries. Our members are from a variety of countries. Altogether the Alliance comprises some 150+ companies. Through a membership in Shipping & Offshore Network with our approximately 50 company members, foreign companies gain access to an entire cluster of maritime and ocean based companies in Norway and abroad
In 2025 we enjoyed a good turnout for our Annual Summit as well as for our three Shipping Academy courses, and we are partner in two EU/Interreg projects. So all in all it was another good year for us.
The AGM was held on Tuesday 25 February with a seminar titled “Why is the world getting so complicated? Consequences for world seaborne trade” with Dr Ulf Sverdrup and Dr Janne Haaland Matlary Our Annual Summit was held at Losby Gods on 3–4 April, titled “Survival in a polarizing world” Our two Market Update meetings were held in Bergen and Oslo on 22 and 23 October, respectively. Also, as always, we collaborated with our Maritime Oslofjord Alliance partners about meetings.
Our Shipping Academy conducted our classic 1-day course in Basic Shipping and Maritime Law on 18 November. On 13 May we conducted “Ship Finance in One Day” and on 27 May the “Ship Management in One Day”. Both courses were launched in 2023, but have already become quite popular.
The Board is pleased to sum up an active year. Our turnover was NOK 1,729,414 with a gross profit of NOK 34,242
Oslo, 24 February, 2026
THE BOARD, clockwise from left: Helene Westfal-Larsen, Frank Solberg, Dr Per Olaf Brett (chair), André Borge, Arnstein Eknes, Tom O. Kleppestø (general manager), and Kjartan Bru Later, on 16 May, Ole Jacob Person from Pareto Maritime Services joined the Board through a by-election
THE MEMBERS MEETINGS IN MORE DETAIL
FEBRUARY: Our Annual General Meeting was held on Tuesday 25 February. Present were altogether 38 attendees: 27 delegates representing 17 members, in addition to guests and the general manager, Tom O. Kleppestø, who was elected to sign the protocol.
Dr Per Olaf Brett was re-elected as chair, as was the entire board:
¡ Arnstein Eknes, DNV AS
¡ Kjartan Bru, BNP Paribas SA Norway Branch
¡ Frank Solberg, Intellimar Consulting Ltd. NUF
¡ Per Olaf Brett (chair), Ulstein International AS
¡ André Borge, Wagle Chartering AS
¡ Helene Westfal-Larsen, Westfal-Larsen Shipping
On 16 May an extraordinary general meeting was held where Ole Jacob Person, Managing Director, Pareto Maritime Services AS, was elected to the Board.
Our Election Committee was also re-elected and consists of Jostein Bjørgo from Wilson, Elisabeth Holmsen from Norsk Hydro and Per Olaf Brett from Ulstein International
Our auditor FGH Revisjon AS was also re-elected, and our annual fee was increased from NOK 20,000 (since 2011) to NOK 25,000.
Janne Haaland Matlary commenting during the AGM; Bjørn Jebsen is welcomed by our chair Per Olaf Brett; and speakers Ulf Sverdrup and Janne Haaland Matlary, who have been with us several times before.
After the AGM followed a seminar on “Why is the world getting so complicated? Consequences for world seaborne trade” with Ulf Sverdrup, PhD, Professor, BI Norwegian Business School, Director NUPI 2011–2023 and Janne Haaland Matlary, Dr.philos, Professor of international politics at the University of Oslo and in strategy at the Norwegian Command and Staff College, Norwegian Armed Forces, and Research Associate, Oxford Changing Character of War Centre; as well as Associate, LSE Ideas, London.
After the AGM and seminar followed drinks in the Hall and our lovely Annual Dinner, hosted by our chair.
Above: Agnes Mathiesen, Wista Norway and Propeller Club
Upper right: Mikael Lorange, Manager Oslo, and Mr Kazuto Yoshinaga, Regional Manager, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK)
Middle photo: Professor Randi Lunnan from BI with her PhD student Josefine Røed. Randi is also board member in OIFO.
Right: Erlend Hvaara and Tor Erik Jensen, our Course Director
APRIL: Our Annual Summit was held on 3–4 April at Losby Gods. The topic was “Survival in a polarizing world”. We had some 50 participants altogether.
O Logistics Branch, Division on Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD on A global trade update amid disruption and uncertainty; and Dr Martin Stopford, former CEO of Clarksons Research, author of Maritime Economics and its accompanying website The Maritime Lectures, Other speakers and panelists were
§ Ernst Meyer, CEO, Torvald Klaveness
§ Helene Tofte, Norwegian Shipowners’ Association
§ Dagfinn Lunde, eShipfinance.com, Netherlands
§ Ronald Spithout, OneHealth by Vikand LLC, USA
§ Guy Hindley, Howe Robinson Partners, London
§ Fredrik Dybwad, Fearnley Securities
§ Nicolai Hansteen, DNV – Maritime
§ Dr. Estela Vázquez Esmerode, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Copenhagen
§ Dr. Jan Emblemsvåg, NTNU Ålesund
§ Unni Einemo, Core Power, London
See more on our LinkedIn and Facebook pages.
Our board member Arnstein Eknes, DNV, knows that you will never be hungry at our Annual Summit.
Clockwise from bottom left: Yannis Litinas, partner, Simonsen Vogt Wiig law firm, was happy to meet the legendary author of Maritime Economics, Dr Martin Stopford, London; Dr Jan Emblemsvåg, NTNU Ålesund; Nicolai Hansteen, DNV Maritime; Ronald Spithout, Vikand LLC, USA; Guy Hindley, Howe Robinson Partners, London; Dr Estela Vázquez Esmerode, Mærsk-McKinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Copenhagen; and last, but not least, Unni Einemo, Core Power Ltd., London.
OCTOBER: Our annual Market Update Meetings were again held both in Bergen and Oslo, on 22 and 23 October, respectively. So Bergen was first this year.
Macro Focus: Professor Øystein Thøgersen from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) gave a presentation on the current global macro-economic picture, this year titled “Towards a global rebalancing – Macroeconomic prospects when the US abdicates.”
Shipping Focus: He was followed by Tom Cochrane, Research Analyst, Dry Cargo Research, Howe Robinson Partners, London with “Analysing container and dry bulk freight – market direction in the light of the latest USTR developmens”, and Nicolai Hansteen, Director Shipping Markets, DNV with "Energy Transformation – what needs to be done, and consequences for the tank and gas markets"
Sustainability Focus: The last speaker was Knut Ola Skotvedt, SVP Ocean Industries, DNB, with “Sustainable ship finance in a fast changing world”.
All photos are from the Oslo meeting this year. The same speakers were in Bergen the day before, on 22 October, but without any photos taken. Jarle Hammer, who can be seen on two of the photos, is an honorary member of Shipping & Offshore Network, one of three.
OTHER THINGS WE DID IN 2025 (SOME OF THEM)
JANUARY: Our general manager participated at the annual experience-sharing conference, ERFA, organised by our neighbours Norwegian Maritime Exporters (NME), this time in Stavanger. The theme for the conference was “Risk Management: What challenges, but also opportunities, do we face in the coming years?” The conference brought together industry leaders, experts, and professionals from the maritime sector to share insights, experiences, and strategies on navigating an increasingly challenging world situation. The photo shows our general manager together with Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, the Minister of Climate and Environment, and Erlend Prytz, CEO of NME.
JUNE: Nor-Shipping celebrated its 60th anniversary, and while we tell about our stand there for Blue Supply Chains elsewhere, this photo from the opening ceremony in Oslo Town Hall on Monday 2 June shows the Shipping & Offshore Network “crew” with our general manager Tom O. Kleppestø, our project manager Agnese Zvirbule, who was also manning that stand at Upper Deck, and our course director Tor Erik Jensen, who is assistant professor and researcher at University of Southeastern Norway (USN) when he is not working for us
AUGUST: During Arendalsuka our general manager was a speaker in a seminar called “An ocean of opportunities – together for a healthy Oslofjord!” This was in his role as general manager of Ocean Industry Forum Oslofjord (OIFO), which has taken a position on behalf of the maritime industry in various projects to improve the Oslofjord. On the photo we see Eva Næss Karlsen from Osloregionen, one of the organisers of the very popular seminar.
SEPTEMBER: On 19 September our general manager was a moderator for a panel at a conference in Tallinn, Estonia, held at the Ministry for Climate, called “Maritime Financing Seminar –Financing Sustainable Growth in the Maritime and Blue Economy Sectors”. The seminar was opened by the Norwegian ambassador, H.E. Marius Dirdal, who was co-hosting the seminar, and the Estonian ambassador to Norway, H.E. Piia Mathiesen.
Among the speakers and panelists were Solveig Frøland from Eksfin and Dagfinn Lunde from eShipfinance.com, also speaker at Annual Summit.
OCTOBER – IMO, LONDON: On 2 and 3 October the 11th City of London Biennial Meeting was held at the IMO, organised by The Costas Grammenos Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass). This famous meeting series by the world known professor, who has taught so many in the shipping world for decades, first took place in 1999. The topic this year was “The World is Changing”
Our general manager was there to meet with professor Grammenos himself, Dr Martin Stopford, professor emerita Siri Strandenes (NHH), who is also a visiting professor at Bayes, and other experts in global shipping. On the photo Siri is moderating the Tanker Market session.
NOVEMBER – EUROPORT, ROTTERDAM: On 4–6 November our general manager was part of a delegation with Oslo Municipality and Port of Oslo to Europort 2025 in Rotterdam, representing Ocean Industry Forum Oslofjord. This had to do with an MoU between Oslo and Rotterdam regarding an emissions free corridor between the two cities, meant to be hydrogen based. However, as we have now become partner in the NSH2V Ports project, this was also highly relevant for Shipping & Offshore Network.
Left: Ms Ragnhild Møller-Stray from Oslo Municipality and Dr Carl Johan Hatteland from Port of Oslo, Dr Thierry Verduijn from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Ms Esther Roth, Program Manager Maritime, Rotterdam Region, and Ms Kitty Tang, Secretary, Rotterdam Maritime Board (in front).
BLUE SUPPLY CHAINS:
In 2016-2019 we were one of 19 partners, and the only Norwegian one, in the Go LNG project (EU/Interreg). The Lead Partner then was Klaipėda Science and Technology park. As a consequence of that, in 2022 we were invited to be the only Norwegian partner in another such project, Blue Supply Chains for the Baltic Sea Region, where the Lead Partner is Port of Hamburg Marketing in Germany
The Blue Supply Chains project supports port authorities and port operators to decarbonise port operations by advancing electrification, providing alternative fuels strategies and setting up green transport chains.
The project is all about decarbonization in ports:
1. Evaluation and piloting of measures for the further electrification of handling equipment,
2. Strategies for providing, handling and storing alternative fuel,
3. Promotion of more environmentally friendly transport chains in the hinterland, with a focus on the development of combined transport.
The target groups for the project are business support organisations, infrastructure and public service providers, and national public authorities. There are 21 partners in the project, with a total budget of EUR 4.6m, of which EUR 0.05m is the Norwegian contribution. In April 2025 all partners met for two days in Skagen, hosted by project partner Port of Skagen and Jesper Ruffs, Business Developer.
Our general manager participated in the partner meeting and at the closing conference, which was one session at the Baltic Ports for Climate Conference in Gdynia on 20 November.
The following day, Friday 21 November, was the last partner meeting for this wonderful project.
During Nor-Shipping we had a stand for the project at Upper Deck, this was manned by Agnese Zvirbule (below left, with our chair Dr Per Olaf Brett) and by our partners in Lindholmen Science Park, Gothenburg (below, right).
THE SHIPPING ACADEMY HAD A SUCCESSFUL YEAR
For many years we have been running the popular 1-day course “Basic Shipping & Maritime Law”
At the AGM in 2023 the Board presented a plan for The Shipping Academy, which included special courses in several topics, with an overall goal of the Shipping Academy:
Understanding the Shipping and Marine Ecosystem
Since then we have developed two courses:
§ Ship Finance (SA-006)
§ Ship Management (SA-007)
In addition we have been asked by course participants to develop one new course in shipbuilding and retrofit, as seen from the owners’ or operator’s perspective.
In 2025 we had 33 participants from the following companies, from all three associations in the Maritime Oslofjord Alliance, attending our three courses:
§ Blue Nau
§ BNP Paribas
§ BW LNG
§ DNB
§ DNV
§ Gard
§ Godby Shipping/Oy Trailer-Link
§ HAV Chartering
§ Klaveness Combination Carriers
§ Krogstads Shipping
§ REV Ocean
§ Ro Sommernes Advokatfirma
§ SFL Management
§ Simonsen Vogt Wiig
§ TMF Norway
§ Tschudi Ship Management
§ Western Bulk Management
§ Wilh. Wilhelmsen Holding
Our Course Director is Tor Erik Jensen, ass professor in Maritime Law at the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) and lecturer at BI Norwegian Business School (BI). Guest lecturers were Claire Koehrer Eide from BNP Paribas SA (Ship Finance) and Trond Eilertsen, chairman Gard and independent lawyer, former partner in Wikborg Rein (Basic Shipping & Maritime Law, see photo above) For Ship Management the co-lecturer was Christian Hovden, also from USN. He is Senior Lecturer, Department of Microsystems, Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Studies
Academy turnover
Oh, one more thing: NS H2V PORTS
In September 2025 we were allowed to join an ongoing Interreg North Sea Region (NSR) project called “North Sea Hydrogen Valley Ports” (NS H2V PORTS) as a Norwegian partner. The project started on 1 January 2024 and was supposed to finish on 31 December 2026, but will be extended by 5-6 months.
The North Sea Hydrogen Valley Ports (NS H2V Ports) project is an ambitious collaboration between leading ports, knowledge institutions, governments, and companies in the North Sea Region. Main content Together, we aim to make the North Sea region a frontrunner in maritime hydrogen development. Within this project, the hydrogen programmes of the ports of Brest, Esbjerg, Bremen, and Den Helder are being further developed into concrete roadmaps, laying the foundation for real-world implementation.
Project partners are:
§ New Energy Coalition (NL), Lead Partner
§ Port of Esbjerg (DK)
§ BrestPort (F)
§ Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (D)
§ Development Agency North Holland North (NL)
§ Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) (S)
§ Université de Caen Normandie (F)
§ Laholm Municipality (S)
§ Ballard Power Systems (CAN/DK)
§ Shipping & Offshore Network (NO)
Read more about the project below and see our LinkedIn post about it right.
MEMBERS
In 2025 we recruited one new member, but lost three for various reasons. The new member is: 1. Wilhelmsen Ship Management (NO)
As of 1 January 2026 this is the membership portfolio of Shipping & Offshore Network:
FINANCIALS
The P&L for 2025 (2024) shows a total turnover of NOK 1,729,414 (1,680,881) and a gross profit of NOK 34,242 (71,132).
MEMBERSHIP FEE
The annual fee for 2025 was NOK 25,000.
THE BOARD 2025
Per Olaf Brett, Ulstein International AS, chairman Kjartan Bru, BNP Paribas SA Norway Branch
Arnstein Eknes, DNV AS
Frank Solberg, Intellimar Consulting Ltd. NUF
Ole Jacob Person, Pareto Maritime Services AS
André Borge, Wagle Chartering AS
Helene Westfal-Larsen, Westfal-Larsen Shipping AS
Oslo, 24 February, 2026
Enclosed: P&L 2025, events overview, and our meeting programmes
OUR EVENTS IN 2025
SHIPPING & OFFSHORE NETWORK EVENTS & CO-ORGANISED EVENTS
25 February
3–4 April
Annual General Meeting (AGM) Norges Rederiforbund
Annual Summit 2025 Losby Gods
22 October Market Update Meeting – Bergen Grand Hotel Terminus
23 October
Market Update Meeting – Bergen Norges Rederiforbund
27 October DNV Technical Day DNV Campus, Høvik
MARITIME OSLOFJORD ALLIANCE EVENTS
19 March Lunch & Learn with OIFO: The role of ports Port of Oslo in the green shift and the energy transition
19 March
29 April
26 August
14 October
30 October
Breakfast meeting with Oslo Rederiforening Norges Rederiforbund
Breakfast meeting with Oslo Rederiforening Norges Rederiforbund
Breakfast meeting with Oslo Rederiforening Norges Rederiforbund
Breakfast meeting with Oslo Rederiforening Norges Rederiforbund
Digital interaction at sea: a collaboration Norges Rederiforbund between ITS Norway and OIFO
THE SHIPPING ACADEMY. BY SHIPPING & OFFSHORE NETWORK
13 May Ship Finance in One Day Norges Rederiforbund
27 May Ship Management in One Day Norges Rederiforbund
18 November Basic Shipping & Maritime Law Norges Rederiforbund
There have been six board meetings in 2025.
The Shipping & Offshore Network team:
Per Olaf Brett (chairman), Agnese Zvirbule and Tom O. Kleppestø.
