Indications are that this year's Nor-Shipping Exhibition, to be held as usual at the Sjolyst Centre in Oslo, will attract great interest. All available exhibition space had been booked six months in advance, and the show's organizer, The Norwegian Fair Organization (Norges Varemesse), has also arranged an impressive seminar that will run for two days during the exhibition's May 11-16 schedule.
The first Nor-Shipping Exhibition took place in 1965, with subsequent shows held in 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1979. Nor-Shipping '79 was visited by about 9,000 people from 43 countries. A total of 266 exhibitors from 20 nations represented manufacturers from 25 countries. More than 500 commodity groups were represented, including banks and other financial institutions, classification societies, harbor and canal authorities, international maritime publications, marine insurance companies, private and public shipping and export organizations, salvage companies, shipbrokers, shipbuilding and repair yards, suppliers of marine equipment, stevedores and cargo-handling firms, suppliers of stores and bunkers, training and recruitment organizations, carriers, and others who serve or are associated with the shipping industry.
From the beginning, a seminar has been held in connection with the Nor-Shipping Exhibition. This year it will take place on May 12-13. The goal of the seminar committee, chaired by H.T. Gram, honorary member of the board of R.S. Platou A/S, has been to let recognized experts present some of the current issues within shipping, thereby throwing light on these topics through internal panel discussions and possible contributions from the seminar participants.
At the Nor-Shipping '79 Seminar, most of the speakers expressed cautious optimism, which proved to be justified. Since then, the market has improved considerably in most trades. The future will, however, present new problems. Ways in which to deal with these problems will be subject to thorough discussion at this year's seminar.
Among the subjects to be taken up during the two seminar days will be the role of shipping in a turbulent world — politically and economically; cooperation in shipping — the need for an international approach; energy—another field in cost savings; and problems of manning, education, and safety.
SEMINAR PROGRAM
TUESDAY, MAY 12
In Section I of the seminar, chaired by Mr. Gram, three papers will be presented by internationally known experts. The seminar committee anticipates that these presentations will influence strategic planning in sectors of the international marine industry.
The Unyielding 1980s: Andrew Knight, editor, The Economist. This presentation will cover the uncertain and turbulent international scene, with some direct references to energy, oil, and the role of shipping and shipping-related industries.
Reflections on the Shipping Policy of the OECD and its Coordination: R.A. Humphrey, head, Maritime Transport Division, Organisation for European Economic Development.
Australian Export Potential of Raw Products — Visualized Demand for Transportation — Australia's Own Shipping Policy: Ross Hawke, general manager-transport, The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd.
Section II will be devoted to the relations between developed and developing countries in the maritime field. Leading representatives from government and private industry will discuss the possibilities of establishing a constructive framework for the future maritime relations between these sectors. Under the chairmanship of Sven H. Salen, chairman, Saleninvest AB, Stockholm, and president of the Swedish Shipowners' Association, the general theme for this section will be Cooperation in Shipping—the Need for an International Approach.
Developing and Developed Countries—Partners or Adversaries in the Future?: Larime Fadika, minister of shipping, The Ivory Coast; Brian P. Shaw, chairman, Committee of European National Shipowners' Association (CENSA); and a third speaker, to be announced, representing the International Chambre of Commerce (ICC).
Cooperation on the Industry Level—What Is in it for Developing Countries?: Arsenio Carlos Nobrega, director, Empresa de Navegacao Alianca, S.A., Brazil; J.P.J. Besman, L.D. Travel International (Ship Freight) Ltd.; and Atle Jebsen, vice chairman, The Norwegian Shipowners' Association.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
Section III will focus on the current energy situation and address different ways of reducing energy bills. With the soaring cost of oil and rapidly rising prices for all sorts of energy supplies, the question of fuel economization has become a very important one. This section will be chaired by Bjorn Wilhelmsen, managing director, Nortank-Sigurd Sverdrup A/S.
Coal and Oil Reserves in the 80s: Prof. Vidkunn Hveding, C.E., Oslo. This presentation will contain estimates of the existing coal and oil reserves available this decade. Of particular interest are the North Sea reserves, which seem to be a vast resource where technical and political decisions could be a hindrance.
What Can Be Done To Existing Tonnage To Save Energy?: Carsten Boe, Det norske Veritas; and Arnold Kr. Hansen, managing director, The Ship Research Institute of Norway. The two speakers will discuss possibilities of saving energy in existing tonnage, concentrating on methods to improve machinery performance and reduce hull friction.
Coal Burning as Fuel in New Vessels: W.F. Ellis, principal consultant, W.F. Ellis and Associates Pty, Ltd. There are different theories on how coal can be utilized as fuel in new ships, but very few vessels have actually been ordered and only a handful are in service today. The speaker will report on the operation of coal-fired ships and the criteria needed for a successful project.
The final Section IV will deal with manning of ships, education of ship's personnel, and ship safety in general. The two introductory speakers and the four panelists are internationally well-known experts in this field. The session will be chaired by Egil Abrahamsen, president of Det norske Veritas.