Japanese shipping major NYK Line won the prestigious Heyerdahl award this year for its impressive efforts and commitment to improve the company’s environmental performance.
“By contributing to an improved global environment and giving inspiration to the development and implementation of new specific environmental measures, NYK Line is a first class winner of the award,” says Børge Brende, Norway’s minister of trade and industry, who presented the award at the ceremony in Tokyo.
The Heyerdahl Award honours the spirit of the Norwegian explorer Dr Thor Heyerdahl and is meant to inspire the world maritime community to innovative actions to protect the environment. The famous explorer and the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association launched The Heyerdahl Award in June 1999.
Round-table discussions
2005 marks the 100th anniversary of modern Norway’s independence, and is also the centennial mark for trade relations with Japan. The two nations are leaders in shipping, and Japanese and Norwegian interests control two of the world’s largest merchant fleets. The day after the Heyerdahl award ceremony, a round-table discussion was held between Japanese and Norwegian representatives, including DNV.
“It was very positive from DNV’s point of view to hear the strong support we received at the round-table discussions, both from the Japanese and Norwegian side. They highlighted the importance of classification societies acting both as recognised organisations on behalf of flag states, and at the same time taking the traditional role of classification societies,” says Terje Staalstrøm, senior vice president and head of classification policy in DNV.