Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

I would first like to express my sincere appreciation for having been invited to speak to this distinguished gathering. It is always a great pleasure to visit Greece! I have looked forward to sharing a few thoughts with you and my good colleague Minister Papoutsis for quite some time. You all have important roles in grappling with the challenges ahead, and I am convinced that meetings such as this will bring our countries even closer together. Furthermore, I would like to thank the people who have made this conference possible. It is an excellent initiative.

During this one-day meeting we are going to cover an impressive range of issues, from safety and the environment to business cooperation. I am certain that the energetic Norwegians and Greeks I see present here today will succeed in covering the entire field. Our goals should be to introduce new ideas, develop and improve old ones, as well as build new relationships.

Our two nations depend on the sea; the sea being the most important transport road for both of our countries. As fate and geography have decided our situation, we have developed to be two of the world’s leading shipping countries. In Norway shipping is at present the largest service export and our second largest export after oil and gas. The Norwegian maritime cluster stretching from seafarers unions, to classification and to research and educational institutions, is one of the most comprehensive in the world.

I am pleased to say that the Norwegian fleet is larger than ever, with over 1,730 vessels sailing internationally. The future also looks good, as Norwegian shipping companies have entered into contracts for 120 ships and 6 mobile offshore vessels. With approximately 80,000 employees in the maritime cluster, it is Norway’s intention to do everything possible to maintain our leading position. We must concentrate all our energy on what we are good at! And it is our goal that the economic activities and jobs within the maritime industry shall be based in Norway. The shipping industry is international, and many countries provide for certain conditions which make it easier to maintain such an industry. We must keep this in mind, yet we have an advantage through high competency, environmental consideration – in short, quality.

And I must add – the industry has at times been very demanding for the Norwegian politicians to relate to. The international competition has become stiffer, and our Government has to keep this situation under review and to consider regularly that our policies are appropriate. Let me briefly address a few issues which are of particular concern to the Norwegian Government in this quest for excellence.

Though we may be constantly threatened by convenience flag states gradually eating up more of the international shipping-world’s pie, I am convinced that the future of a prosperous shipping industry will be based on what may be considered the three "pillars of success". We must strive for long-term solutions, not short-term profits.

The first pillar is safety and protection of the environment. The Norwegian Government gives high priority to all efforts for improving safety at sea and protecting the environment. In this context, the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization plays a leading role.

Norway has been, and will continue to be, active in seeking out adequate international rules governing maritime safety and environmental protection in the IMO. In this respect I would refer to the improvements to the High Speed Craft Code, which will be covered later today. Furthermore, I wish to mention our work on the phasing-out of TBT-based paints on ships hulls, limiting the effects of damage due to ballast water, improving the standards for recirculating outdated vessels, the phasing-out of single-hulled tankers and taking part in the successful negotiations concerning an international convention on civil liability for bunker oil pollution damage.

Our approach is dictated by the need to seek global solutions to global problems. The best way to deal with this is by improving the IMO mechanisms rather than resorting to national or regional solutions alone. The task of establishing international legislation is in general a complex one, though the IMO must be considered the most appropriate and efficient forum for these challenges. I therefore call on all countries to bolster their work in the IMO.

The second pillar is research and development. Our Government wishes to stimulate maritime research and development. I am happy to say that Norway is at the forefront in the development of new technologies in the maritime field. We are fully aware that expertise in design and development of products and innovative solutions are essential for progress. Close cooperation between research institutes, designers of shipping gear and shipbuilders is very important. Our Government wishes to do what it can to facilitate this vital work. Through close cooperation we are able to incorporate the very latest technological advances into the vessels at the shipyards.

In this respect it should be noted that members of the maritime cluster in Norway and the Norwegian Research Council established some years ago a common research and development programme. With an environmental perspective it primarily focuses on information technology, sea transport and logistics, in addition to equipment technology. It is also encouraging to see the increase in international cooperation during the last few years, among other several projects financed through the EU framework program for research.

Finally, the third pillar is education or what can be termed "the human factor". It is with a heavy heart that I have read about the tragic accidents which have taken place in both our countries during the last years, with the loss of numerous lives. As a majority of accidents at sea are the result of human error, we must look carefully at how we can improve the competence of both workers ashore and on board the vessels. For many years this important factor seems to have been underestimated. Fortunately, through work on the STCW and the ISM Code several significant steps forward have taken place. Further focus has to be concentrated on the continuous upgrading of competence and knowledge.

If I were to add an additional element to the picture I have attempted to sketch, I would emphasise the importance in transparency of ownership of vessels. When a ship causes irreparable damage, either human or natural, the international community must be able to ascertain who the true owner of a vessel is. Owning a ship is not only an investment, it is also an obligation. The owner must not be allowed to hide behind a comforting veil of corporate relationships when responsibility is at issue.

"Quality" is without a doubt a constantly evolving process, and I have touched upon only a few of numerous issues. We must never rest on our laurels, but seek new solutions and improvements.

The obvious importance of close cooperation between Greece and Norway in the field of international shipping cannot be understated. I have already mentioned our work in the IMO. Through our obligations in the EEA (European Economic Area) we also possess unique tools for our countries to work closely together. As shipping nations, it should be in our mutual interest to have an open and active dialogue at both civil servant and minister level with regard to the various issues that arise.

Before I close I wish to take note of the excellent relations our countries have with respect to business opportunities. One encouraging example that comes to mind is the delivery of three modern ferries by the Fosen shipyard to Minoan Lines. Though our countries are situated at opposite ends of a vast continent, it is my aspiration that meetings such as this will open doors to other parts of the maritime cluster for both of us.

The great French author Victor Hugo wisely wrote in Les Miserables: "There is nothing like dream to create the future. Utopia today, flesh and blood tomorrow." My dream is that we can create a better environment for shipping and secure shipping’s position on the political agenda - together. If our countries can pool their resources, I am convinced that we shall succeed in creating a better international shipping environment.

I wish you all the best of luck in your endeavours, and I look forward to strengthening the excellent bonds we already have between our countries, both professionally, politically, and not least, socially, through many more years.

Thank you very much.