Norwegian shipowner Farstad featured prominently at the inaugural OSJ Awards, presented on 17 February at the Annual OSJ Conference gala dinner sponsored by C-Mar Group. With victories in both the Shipowner of the Year and Innovation of the Year (in association with Rolls-Royce Marine) categories, the Aalesund based outfit commented that the accolades “represent another acknowledgment of our work towards a safer working place and more efficient operations with less impact on the environment”.
The OSJ Innovation of the Year award was presented for the Rolls-Royce-designed and manufactured cable lifter changing system. The equipment was installed on board a series of four UT731CD type anchor handler vessels built at STX Norway Offshore in Langsten, with the last one due for delivery by the end of March.
The OSJ Support Vessel of the Year honour was won by Fugro Synergy, with owner Fugro Marine, builder Bergen Group and designer Marin Teknikk receiving the award. Inge Tangerås, vice president, shipbuilding and maritime service, Bergen Group said of the win, “We are very pleased to have received this award and sincere thanks go to everyone involved in this challenging project, especially to Fugro for placing the order and for very smooth and pleasant co-operation throughout the project.”
Also collecting this award at the ceremony were Jasper Bergsma, newbuilding manager, Fugro Marine BV, Bernie Morrison, managing director, Fugro Well Services, Arild Kalkvik, director of marketing and sales, Bergen Group, Richard Gjerde, sales manager, Marin Teknikk and Svein Gjerde, managing director, Marin Teknikk.
The award winners in these categories were initially nominated by industry and then shortlisted by the distinguished Annual OSJ Conference advisory panel. The final decision was made by OSJ readers, with over 1,000 votes cast on the OSJ Awards voting webpage.
Meanwhile, Idar Ulstein was selected as the winner of the OSJ Lifetime Achievement Award by the Annual OSJ Conference advisory panel. Although unable to attend the conference, in a video message Mr Ulstein commented, “I am humble and grateful for the award, and I wish to share it with everybody that works or has worked in Ulstein Group. Without them, Ulstein Group could not have developed the way it has, from the repair of fishing vessels in 1917, to the company of today that works with innovations, research and development, and state-of-the-art vessels, designs, power and control.” Erik Andreassen, regional director, Europe at Ulstein Design Solutions picked up the award on Mr Ulstein’s behalf, in front of the audience of around 300 industry executives attending the gala dinner.