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“We are a company with a true global footprint based on a Norwegian heritage and a blue-chip customer base. We may be third in size, but we believe we are first in quality,” says Jon Are Gummedal, Managing Director at OSM Maritime.

This week, he gave a presentation at a GCE NODE breakfast meeting in Arendal.

OSM Maritime Group and Thome Group have agreed to a merger of the two companies. The combined company will be named OSM Thome.

Both OSM Maritime and Thome are deeply rooted in the Norwegian shipping tradition and expertise, and they combine this with the modern drive of Asian business enterprise. The headquarters of the combined company will be located in Arendal, Norway, with strong technical management hubs maintained in Singapore and Europe.

Together, the two companies have a total of 31,000 employees, whereof 2,000 onshore in 22 countries. They manage 1,000 ships, whereof 450 ships on full technical management, and 550 ships on crew management. Many of the world’s leading shipping companies are customers of OSM and Thome, and the fleet consists of different segments such as tank, bulk, container, car carriers, cruise ships and offshore vessels and units.

OSM Maritime’s CEO Finn Amund Norbye will assume the role of CEO for the merged OSM Thome, while Thome’s CEO, Olav Nortun, will take up the position of COO for the consolidated ship management activities. OSM founder Bjørn Tore Larsen will become Chairman of the new Board of Directors and Thome’s Claes Eek Thorstensen will be the Vice Chairman.

WELCOME HUB AGDER
Following the OSM presentation at the breakfast meeting, Megan Strand took the stage to talk about Welcome Hub Agder, an organization that welcomes international talent and their families, supporting them to live good lives in Agder.

“Agder needs international competence in the coming years. But settling as a newcomer in Agder can be challenging. Our goal is to drastically increase the chance that newcomers will thrive, contribute, and stay for the long-term – becoming ambassadors for the region,” says Strand.

Studies show that what prolongs the stay is job opportunities for the spouse, social networks, and language skills.

Initiated by Impact Hub Agder, Arendal Municipality and Arendal Chamber of Commerce, Welcome Hub Agder offers onboarding programs, which include focus on family services, social networks, and Norwegian system support.

“We are strengthening our relationship with Pôle Mer Méditerranée and Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique, two organizations that we have enjoyed working with for some time,” says Tom Fidjeland, CEO of GCE NODE.

The purpose of the agreement is to assist the further development of ocean technology in Norway and France. The clusters agree to champion ocean technology in their respective countries as well as jointly when the opportunity arises. The clusters agree to seek areas of strategic benefit to both nations and their supply chain members through collaborations and partnerships.

“Furthermore, we will explore opportunities for cluster companies to do business together, and we work as partners in EU programs and seek to participate in consortia to respond to calls for EU projects,” says Fidjeland.

The agreement was signed during the opening day of the FOWT Conference in Nantes, France – the world’s largest event dedicated to floating offshore wind turbines. Team Norway comprised 30 people, including representatives from National Oilwell Varco.

88 representatives of 49 Agder companies came to meet Brigg Vind, one of the contenders for a license to develop wind farms at Sørlige Nordsjø II.

During 12-minute sessions throughout the afternoon, the companies presented their expertise and products to Brigg Vind. The purpose of the event, hosted by Fremtidens Havvind, was to establish contacts between the consortium and the region’s supplier industry.

Brigg Vind was established in 2021 and comprises three companies. Vårgrønn, a joint venture between Plenitude (Eni) and HitecVision, is Norway’s largest pure-play offshore wind company. Å Energi is one of Norway’s leading renewable companies. And Corio Generation, headquartered in the UK, is an international offshore wind developer and a portfolio company of the Green Investment Group.

Bjørnar Talset at Vårgrønn is the Project Manager for the Brigg Vind consortium. He sees Sørlige Nordsjø II as the first step of the development of massive wind resources in the area south of Norway.

“Sørlige Nordsjø II is a 3 GW project in an area well suited for bigger projects. In a new report, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate estimates a potential for 5.7 to 11.5 GW. Sørlige Nordsjø II could be a strategic hub for offshore wind development in Norway,” said Talset.

He continued to say that Brigg Vind will contribute to building competence and creating local ripple effects.

“We will adopt a multi-contract model, which will enable Norwegian suppliers to bid on bits of the total development,” said Talset.

Stein Oddvar Sægrov at Innovation Norway urged suppliers to learn the offshore wind industry, as it is different from the more familiar oil and gas industry. And he encouraged Norwegian suppliers to gain experience in international project while waiting for the Norwegian market to open.

Rune Klausen, Project Manager at Fremtidens Havvind, said suppliers need to find new solutions to reduce costs.

“To have a future in offshore wind, you need to find ways to bring value to this industry,” said Klausen.