– A great year!

2005 was a great year for the Norwegian maritime industry. The industry reports that for ship orders placed in Norway we are looking at a solid 40% increase over 2004. Even for a cyclic industry, this is an impressive growth. Norwegian companies deliver 7% of the world’s ship equipment. A large part of the international fleet has been built by Norwegian shipyards, and our maritime sector provides employment for around 90 000 people.

It is not a coincidence that Norway is a leading maritime nation. Throughout our history, the sea has significantly influenced everyday life and the spirit of the Norwegian people, providing food and a livelihood. Furthermore, the sea has made possible the transportation of goods and people to destinations unattainable by other means.

Our long maritime tradition has provided us with special skills and know-how in the shipbuilding and ship’s equipment industries. Centuries of experience, cooperation and hard work have generated a growth of world leading players in maritime research and development, ship finance, ship broking, maritime software and consultancy. Together, these entities constitute the unique maritime cluster that we see today, a cluster that focuses on providing its customers with innovative technology and state-of-the-art products. This publication provides examples of achievements made in 2005.

The Norwegian maritime industry has yet higher ambitions. In order to maintain future delivery of the best possible maritime products to customers all over the world, continuous efforts are made to further develop the Norwegian maritime sector. An important part of these efforts is the MARUT-initiative. MARUT aims at promoting maritime research and development through a close cooperation between the maritime industry, research institutions and public authorities. We already see true commitment and engagement and the evolvement of many innovative projects. As Minister of trade and industry, it is my privilege to support this important work.

From the early Viking ships to today’s advanced ships with sophisticated hulls, machinery and technological equipment, Norway has been known for high quality ships and ship’s equipment. Worldwide we are now seeing an increased focus on and a strong link between quality, security, and environmental issues. Norway has always been an advocate for common international standards at sea, and we are considered to be one of the forerunners in the field. Moreover, we are a major contributor on environmental-friendly and efficient solutions. Five new LNG-driven ferries will for instance operate Norwegian fjords from 2007; they are all developed and built in Norway.

I hope you will enjoy this presentation of what the Norwegian maritime industry has achieved in 2005. We are looking forward to continue developing relations with our maritime partners all over the world in 2006.

Mr Odd Eriksen
Minister of Trade and Industry