Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to this conference.

All of us are aware that international co-operation is vital for such a truly international industry as shipping. This applies with respect to structural, financial and regulatory issues.

Norway has always depended on the sea and seafaring. Therefore the issues discussed during this conference are very important to Norway. The Norwegian government focuses considerably on matters concerning maritime safety, as well as a striving to achieve higher quality shipping. Further it is our goal to make sure that Norwegian shipping industry continues to be operated on a competitive basis from Norway, thereby boosting employment and economic growth also in the other parts of our maritime industries.

Transport at sea is more environmentally friendly than road transport. Maritime transport generates less pollution per ton-kilometre and is more energy effective than other forms of transport. In spite of this, there is room for improvement. One way to secure a more environmentally friendly maritime industry is to ensure that pollution never pays. This could also open up for new and profitable products and services.

Today you will have a debate concerning who should take the responsibilities to increase the share of quality shipping. Most of the international regulations are directed at shipowner’s activity. That may be right. But quality shipping will only be possible if the maritime community as a whole meets responsibilities.

Shipowners have made significant efforts in cost-reduction during the last decades. This has provided low-cost transportation, but sometimes with high safety costs. Safety problems are not desired by anyone. But anybody working in a competitive market has to look after the economic side of his operations, and low safety standards are likely to remain a problem. This can only be met by requirements from the community at large, which in practical terms means governments.

Transparency of information about the condition of ships and the way in which they are run is required. The information available must be of high quality and standardised. This is important because we know that a "black list" will be the result of a poor performance record, and false information will have a dramatic influence on "innocent" companies’ activities. We support the EU initiative in developing the EQUASIS database, which provides commercial partners with necessary information about the standard of ships and their management organisation.

One problem in discussing Quality Shipping is the wide difference in the perception of risk among various industry players on the one hand, and the regulators and the public on the other. We must make sure that these gaps are brought down, and that no one is tempted to take unacceptable risks due to potential savings. When discussing increased transparency we must make sure that co-operation take place between these various interests.

Safe shipping must be a profitable product itself. Regulators must pay attention that the players that have worked hard to achieve high quality management do not lose their market shares because of high costs when fulfilling their safety commitments.

The shipping industry itself faces a number of challenges, such as recruitment, fleet renewal, as well as quality and safety issues. These are international challenges, and co-operation will be necessary. World wide political and economic developments have led to a rapid move towards liberalising economies. This development also applies to shipping. It is in everyone’s interest that trade in goods and services is based on open markets and free and fair competition.

Together with the industry, the minister will review whether it is necessary to study more carefully the future challenges we face and the possibilities we may create and establish.

The shipping industry is dependent of international trade. Tomorrow’s discussions on the different shipping markets will give us an update of how important markets players see the future. I am sure that the discussion on the state of the markets will be of great interest.

Building network lies in the heart of co-operation between countries as well as companies and business partners. This entails development of confidence and promotion of mutual respect and understanding. Confidence comes with establishment of personal ties and the identification of common interest and problems. I am sure that this conference will contribute to building network and co-operation between actors in a broad spectre of the maritime milieu.

I hope this conference will prove fruitful to you. I also hope your stay here in Oslo will be pleasant. It is my pleasure to declare the Nor-Shipping 2001 Maritime Conference officially open and to wish you the best luck during the next two days and in the future.