Page 94: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 1996)

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The Norwegian W< by Greg Trauthwein, editorial director

There are few nations which can boast stronger ties to the maritime industry than Norway. From the outset, when the Norwegian vessel construction and equipment supply base were created to serve the nations vital fishing fleet, Norwegian companies have been leaders in product innovation and technology.

While Norway's vessel construction repertoire no longer includes large ships — rather the focus is on specialty and smaller vessels today — there is a strong, ever-present bond and cooperation among vessel own- ers, vessel builders and equipment suppliers which ensures all parties maintain a high competency level to stay competitive on the intern tional level. As the international maritime industry has rapm evolved, Norwegian equipment suppliers — with the leadership of I

Norwegian Trade Council— have been aggressive in pursuing busin opportunities across the globe. Trade missions — such as the one to I

U.S. in the spring of1995 — have brought a unified message ofp\ nership and solution to the yards visited.

The following offers a briefing on significant events and cont involving Norwegian companies in the recent past. 152 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News