Alba’s Shipping Students Delve into Oslo’s Maritime Industry
Our recent shipping field trip to Oslo, Norway, provided our students with an invaluable opportunity to immerse themselves in the maritime industry and engage with esteemed professionals and alumni. This trip was designed to enhance their understanding of the economic, political, and cultural dimensions of shipping, and it certainly delivered.
Students had the chance to start their journey at Höegh Autoliners, where they attended an outstanding presentation by our Alba alumni Sondre André Fossum Nilsen and Brage Målsnes, along with Fredrik Schönauer-Jansen. They gained valuable insights into the core activities of this historic company, its new building program, and strategies for selling green solutions to customers. This session concluded with a practical exercise where students created and delivered elevator pitches, immediately applying their learning.
The next visit was to SKULD, where students participated in a presentation and engaging discussion led by Bjørn Flåm, Senior Vice President and Senior Advisor at SKULD. His expertise and insights were greatly appreciated by the students.
Following this, students delved into the world of chartering at Grieg Shipbrokers, thanks to the warm welcome and presentation by David Billam. Special thanks go to our alumni Henrik Medby and Antonios Karageorgis for organizing this insightful visit.
The trip continued with a visit to the stunning DNV Headquarters. There, students received a warm welcome from Jakub Walenkiewicz, who provided an excellent presentation on shipping markets. Ole Vidar Nilsen further enriched the visit by discussing the role of classification societies, and Pawel Piotrowski gave a fascinating tour of the DNV Lab. The team's hospitality, including a generous lunch, made this visit particularly memorable.
Next, students visited the University of Southeastern Norway (USN). It was a pleasure for them to reconnect with Ziaul Haque Munim, Per Haavardtun, Øivind Berg, and Christian Hovden. Their outstanding hospitality and presentations on autonomous vessels, along with a tour of the USN’s 360-degree full mission simulation training center, provided students with cutting-edge insights into maritime education and technology.
After exploring various facets of the shipping industry, including ship-owning, classification, insurance, and shipbroking, students visited the Norwegian Shipowners Association. They were honored to hear from Mr. Simon Johansson, Head of Department Climate, and Tuva Kantardjief Wettland, Advisor, who enlightened them on the association’s role and the pressing issues currently facing the shipping industry.
The next stop was DNB Bank, where Marius Thorvildsen and Sigurd Gjone Gabrielsen provided a comprehensive overview of shipping finance, operational methodologies, and the evolution of banking and lending markets. Their presentation included an interactive case study and a lively Q&A session, greatly benefiting the students.
The final visit of the trip was with our remarkable alumnus, Spyros Grigoriadis, and his colleague Adrian Wara Betsi at Fearnleys. Their discussion provided deep insights into the shipping industry's current landscape and was an excellent conclusion to the educational field trip.
To cap off this enriching experience, students continued the tradition of connecting with our alumni in Norway over a celebratory dinner organized by our school. 
We would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Alexandros Glykas and his company, DYNAMARINe, for generously sponsoring our last evening that was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen community bonds and celebrate the successful conclusion of the field trip.
Thank you to all our alumni, industry professionals, and hosts for making this field trip an unforgettable and educational experience for our students. We look forward to continuing these enriching exchanges and fostering the next generation of maritime leaders.
