Industry leaders, innovative owners and groundbreaking OSVs

During a gala dinner at the end of the first day of the conference, delegates gave the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by DNV, to winner Eidesvik Offshore’s retired president and chief executive Jan Fredrik Meling.

DNV segment director for special ships Arnstein Eknes presented the award to Mr Meling, who spent 16 years at the helm of the Norwegian offshore support vessel owner. During his leadership, Eidesvik achieved operational excellence and built a reputation as a pioneer in the use of new green energy carriers in the North Sea.

Mr Meling guided the company through an environmental transition, adopting LNG fuels, hybrid propulsion and batteries for its vessels.

Mr Meling said he was proud of what Eidesvik had achieved, especially within sustainability. In January 2022, chief operating officer Gitte Gard Talmo became Mr Meling’s successor.

“We have gone in steps to cut emissions by 25-50%. We had to retrofit, putting in new technology and getting emissions down and extending the life of vessels,” he said while accepting the award.