Nor-Shipping 2025 turns spotlight on innovation with Next Generation Ship and Ocean Solutions Awards shortlists

Nor-Shipping 2025, taking place in Oslo and Lillestrøm 2-6 June, has today announced the shortlists for two of its most coveted accolades, the Next Generation Ship Award and the Ocean Solutions Award.

Celebrating innovations, technologies and pioneering projects capable of balancing both environmental and commercial sustainability, the initiatives attracted a huge number of entries from across the world. Selecting the eventual winners was, according to Nor-Shipping Director Sidsel Norvik, “tougher than ever”.

Pioneering projects

Nor-Shipping’s Next Generation Ship Award champions trail-blazing projects that are either newbuildings under construction, conversions, retrofits or recent deliveries. This year’s shortlisted entrants are:

• Windcat Workboats’ Elevation Series CSOVs: Hydrogen-powered, offshore service vessels developed in collaboration with Damen and CMB.TECH.
• Solvang ASA Clipper Eris retrofit: Carbon capture and storage retrofit on a 21,000m3 ethylene carrier, reducing GHG emissions.
• NYK’s Sakigake conversion: The world’s first ammonia-fuelled tugboat, converted from LNG fuel to demonstrate low-carbon alternatives.
• Samskip’s SeaShuttle feeder vessels: Hydrogen fuel cell-powered zero-emission container ships for shortsea routes.
• Bibby Marine’s eCSOV hybrid vessels: Offshore wind support vessels designed for long-term zero-emission operations.

From challenge to opportunity

The Ocean Solutions Award, meanwhile, is open to Nor-Shipping participants with landmark innovations capable of helping the industry meet some of its most pressing challenges. As always, the competition was intense, with the expert jury eventually selecting the following shortlisted nominees:

• Wärtsilä Carbon Capture and Storage: A modular system designed for integration into existing propulsion setups, reducing CO₂ emissions.
• Zeabuz autonomous ship platform: Pioneering remote and autonomous vessel operations to address crew shortages and enhance safety.
• Wärtsilä ammonia solution: A full-scale deployment of ammonia as a marine fuel, showcasing safety and operational efficiency.
• ORCA AI situational awareness: An AI-driven platform enhancing navigational safety through real-time risk detection and data analysis.
• bound4blue’s eSail system: Innovative ‘suction sail’ wind propulsion solutions cutting fuel consumption, emissions and easing regulatory compliance for a wide range of vessel types.

Fierce competition

“What a year,” comments Nor-Shipping Director Norvik. “The competition was fiercer than ever, with some outstanding entrants, so getting this far in the awards should be a huge source of pride for all the shortlisted companies and teams.

“The evolving nature of the competing fields every time we run these initiatives is a testament to both the progress within the industry and the continued commitment of key stakeholders to build a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient maritime future. We’re proud to support these innovations and can’t wait to see the winners enjoying the spotlight when the shipping world meets next month in Norway!”

The winners of the Next Generation Ship Award and Ocean Solution Award will be revealed in front of an audience of key industry decision makers at Nor-Shipping’s Ocean Leadership Conference on 3 June.

This year’s Nor-Shipping programme, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the event week, focuses on the theme of #Future-Proof. More than 50,000 decision makers, and around 1,000 exhibiting companies, will attend the unique week-long event.