Industry leaders, innovative owners and groundbreaking OSVs

Solstad Offshore chief executive Lars Peder Solstad was presented with the OSJ Industry Leader Award 2023 by sponsor Uptime International director for sales and marketing Svein Ove Haugen.

Mr Solstad has led the major Norwegian OSV owner through a long period of tough market conditions and through consolidation to become one of the sector’s innovators in terms of new markets and the green transition. Solstad’s vision is to further enhance its reputation as a reliable world-leading offshore shipping company.

"There have been more downs than ups, but things are going in the right direction," Mr Solstad said on accepting the award. "It is all about people. It is key to have the right people involved."

As one of the largest OSV owners worldwide, Solstad operates a fleet of 87 modern vessels and employs more than 3,500 highly skilled people worldwide.

Solstad has become an expert on saving costs by lowering fuel consumption and reducing emissions, so far achieving 21% in fuel savings through the hugely successful programme, Solstad Green Operations.

For this programme, Solstad Offshore won the ESG Award 2023, sponsored by Caterpillar. The owner has set a goal of complete carbon neutrality by 2050. It plans to reach a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared with 2008, applying a combination of operational measures, battery energy storage, hydrogen and ammonia fuel pilots and newbuilds. 

Norwegian energy group Equinor was also shortlisted for the ESG award for its portfolio of offshore renewable projects and support for OSV owners investing in alternative fuels and emissions-reduction technologies.

ADNOC Logistics & Services won the OSJ Shipowner of the Year Award 2023, sponsored by V.Ships Offshore, for its critical role in enabling the UAE’s oil and gas sector to raise production while reducing emissions.

The company supports more than 100 global clients in over 50 countries with fully integrated technology-powered logistics solutions and a full suite of port management services. It supports ADNOC’s offshore network at more than 70 offshore locations.

Norwegian vessel owner Island Offshore and Brazil-headquartered Starnav Serviços Marítimos were shortlisted nominees.

OSJ’s Offshore Energy Vessel of the Year Award 2023 was presented to Windcat Workboats for its hydrogen-powered Hydrocat 48, which provides zero-emissions support for the offshore renewables industry in Belgium.

Windcat and CMB.Tech developed Hydrocat 48 as the world’s first hydrogen-powered crew transfer vessel with dual-fuel MAN engines and a hydrogen injection system.

Edda Wind’s construction support vessel Edda Breeze was shortlisted for its hydrogen-ready, diesel-electric power system, onboard energy storage and permanent magnet electromotors.

Another shortlisted nominee was Seacat Services’ crew transfer vessel Seacat Columbia, a BARTech 30 design boat built at Diverse Marine Shipyard on the Isle of Wight.

More award winners will be revealed in a second following article.