På veg mot ein utsleppsfri skipsfart

Good morning!

Thank you for the opportunity to take part in the NCE Maritime Clean Techs annual conference. Your contributions to greening the Norwegian and the international maritime sector are invaluable.

I also congratulate you on soon to be in 10 years of existence!

Before 2015, there existed no fully electric passenger ferry in the world. Then we got Ampere between Lavik and Opedal in Sognefjorden in Norway.

By 2022, around 80 of the ferries in Norway will have batteries installed. That is one third of our fleet.

This is a Norwegian success story built on green shipping. A story that has only just begun.

By 2030, the ambition is to reduce emissions from domestic shipping and fisheries by 50 percent compared to 2005.

We will stimulate low and zero emission technologies in all vessel categories. Public procurement, financial incentives and regulations are our main tools.

The Government's action plan for green shipping has concrete actions for several of the vessel categories. We have started follow-up work on almost all of the vessel categories.

Now we take further steps in the upcoming climate plan for 2030.

The Norwegian maritime sector must keep its competitive power in green shipping. This will both create future jobs and ensure emissions reduction.

So, what is new?

We will introduce requirements for low and zero emission solutions in all new procurements of ferries in 2023, and in all new procurements of high-speed passenger vessels in 2025.

The number of low and zero emissions ferries will keep increasing.

Next year, the first hydrogen ferries will start operations. Your cluster partners have a key role in this aspect. And we also await the first low and zero emission high speed passenger vessels.

Personally, I'm looking very much forward to this. I have had my fair share of ferry rides and speed passenger vessel rides as well. They are enjoyable rides most of the time, the food is good, but I enjoy the quiet ride of an electric ferry.

In addition, we support technology development and implementation financially through various schemes, enabling local authorities to prioritize low and zero emission solutions.

More generally, we will assess the possibility to introduce climate requirements inn all public procurement of sea transport services by 2023.

We will introduce requirements for low and zero emission solutions in regulations.

In this first round, this will cover service vessels in the aquaculture industry starting from 2024. We are looking into requirements for offshore vessels as well. Here, you’re also front-runners as the first to utilize batteries, and now hydrogen and ammonia, in such vessels.

These new requirements will help both the industries and the ship owners to make green decisions going forward.

And, we will continue to evaluate existing schemes and regulations, and develop new tools.

We established two new measures as part of the COVID-19 recovery packages this spring: A condemnation scheme for ships and a loan scheme for ships and fishing boats in the short sea shipping area. We already see applications coming in.

We also have enforced the Green Shipping program's efforts within fleet renewal in the short sea shipping segments.

By linking the maritime sector, goods owners and public actors, the program has brought forward zero-emission solutions. In July, I took part in the launch of the "request for interest" by Heidelberg Cement and Felleskjøpet Agri on the world's first emission free bulk-ship. The interest shown by shipping companies has been remarkable – 31 responses in total.  

I know that you too have projects with similar approaches. For instance, I'm looking forward to see how the Hydro - NCE Maritime CleanTech project for an emission free bulk ship between Brazil and Norway develops.

Still, further efforts are necessary.

The Norwegian government is ready to do its part. I look forward to continuing the good cooperation with all of you.

In addition to being in front at home, we also work for a strong global framework for emission reductions from the shipping sector.

The IMO is our arena for this work. We have taken on a leader role in the international negotiations. I was very pleased with the approval of new energy efficiency requirements earlier this fall.

However, we must go further. Reaching the IMO ambition of at least 50 percent emission reductions by 2050 from shipping globally will require a fundamental fuel switch.

Both in the Nordic and in the European context the focus on collaboration for emission reductions from the shipping sector is increasing.

The shipping sector is a cornerstone in reaching the Paris agreements temperature goals.

Emission free transportation is where we are headed.

With close cooperation between the research and development actors, the industry and the authorities, I believe we will succeed.

A green shipping sector is good for the climate and will ensure valuable workplaces and coastal communities.

With this, I wish you all a great conference and I want to repeat my congratulation to the NCE Maritime Cleantech.

Your work and impact are key on our path forward.

Thank you!