Nor-Shipping 2025 didn’t just break records; it also built bridges. The 60th anniversary of the maritime event week welcomed more participants than ever before – 63,698, a 23% increase over Nor-Shipping 2023 – with an injection of new, young and ambitious attendees from Norway’s top educational centres.
Leading this charge were a handful of student ‘Ambassadors’, as part of a fresh initiative developed in collaboration with NJORD Maritime Studentforening and led by Fredrik Ingebrigtsen, Nor-Shipping’s Head of Marketing and Communications.
The Student Ambassador Programme was conceived to strengthen ties between young talent and the industry, giving participants the opportunity to contribute, connect, and help shape the event from ‘next generation’ perspectives. In a twist to proceedings, Ambassador winners were chosen based on the number of fellow students they recruited to attend Nor-Shipping.
It marked the first time such a programme had run, but, given its success, it certainly won’t be the last, says Nor-Shipping Director Sidsel Norvik.
Building momentum
Norvik comments: “Nor-Shipping is a renowned global destination for the industry, but we also want to build it into a true talent hub where students, educational institutions and businesses eager to connect with the next generation can come together and prosper.”
Ingebrigtsen says he was delighted at engagement levels, adding: “Nor-Shipping aims to become a key meeting place for the maritime industry and new talent. We don’t just want students to attend, we want Nor-Shipping to be an important arena they can take part in, help shape, and leave with new opportunities, inspiration, and connections.
Student Ambassadors meeting John Kerry at the Ocean Leadership Conference. Photo: Amalie Sydnes
He continues: “For the maritime industry to stay competitive and future ready, it is crucial that we involve, attract, and invest in fresh talent. Seeing how the Ambassadors embraced the initiative, and the connections that came from it, was incredibly rewarding. Their insight and energy brought real value, and we’re excited to build on this foundation in the years ahead.”
Huge interest
Nor-Shipping’s student ‘stars of the show’, and winners of the 2025 Student Ambassador Program, were Silje Eriksen Gresseth (BI), Regine Paulsen (University of South-Eastern Norway), and Simen Jenssen (Kristiania University). Together, they recruited well over 100 fellow students to the Lillestrøm and Oslo-based exhibition and activity programme, with Gresseth leading the way with 67 attendees.
From left: Gaute Aanesland Jørgensen (DNV), Simen Jenssen, Regine Paulsen, Silje E. Gresseth, Even With Skaar (DNV), and Fredrik Ingebrigtsen (Nor-Shipping).
She says Nor-Shipping 2025 – which, appropriately enough, had the main theme of #Future-Proof – was a unique experience and “an exciting opportunity to connect with people in the maritime industry and expand my professional network.”
She explains. “I was especially motivated by the chance to meet fellow students, who were very happy to get free access through the tickets we provided as Ambassadors, and key players with a strong interest in shipping.”
Speaking about her peers, she adds: “There was huge interest from students who are passionate about the sector. The event created a strong sense of community, and many expressed appreciation for the chance to connect, learn, and be part of such a large-scale industry gathering.”
Shaping the shift
Paulsen, from USN, agrees, noting that Nor-Shipping’s focus on enabling enhanced sustainability is a major point of interest:
“These industries are at the heart of the green transition, and our generation will be part of shaping that shift — seeing it evolve from idea to reality,” she states, continuing: “And there are so many interesting niches and areas of specialization to discover, which opens up a wide range of career paths.
“From what I saw, the students appreciated the experience and saw real value in being there.”
Jenssen enjoyed similar levels of enthusiasm and engagement, noting: “Participating at Nor-Shipping 2025 was incredibly inspiring. It was a unique opportunity to meet fellow students, companies of various sizes, and people from across the world. Being an Ambassador meant helping others see what this industry can offer – and that was a real highlight.”
Powerful tool
As the three Ambassadors with the greatest impact, Jenssen, Paulsen, and Gresseth were recognized on Nor-Shipping’s final day, 6 June, receiving a private CV and career guidance session from DNV, goodie bags from SKULD, and a featured interview article. All Ambassadors were awarded certificates from Nor-Shipping, goodie bags from Kongsberg Maritime, dinner and drinks, access to events, volunteering and networking opportunities, and more.
Anders Kårbø Rong and Hedda Markhus from NJORD – live from Finansavisen’s Nor-Shipping Studio
Speaking about the initiative, NJORD leader Anders Kårbø Rong is looking forward to “more of the same” in the future:
“Nor-Shipping is a fantastic arena for NJORD and maritime students in general — it bridges the gap between education and industry, offering real insight into what the future of shipping looks like. The ambassador initiative gave students ownership and a clear role in making Nor-Shipping a success. It created leadership opportunities and encouraged collaboration across universities and study programmes.”
He concludes: “I’d love to see the initiative grow — with more formal ambassador gatherings, dedicated sessions with industry leaders, or mentorship setups. It’s a powerful tool both for student engagement and industry visibility.”
Future Nor-Shipping Ambassadors, and all stakeholders interested in the next generation of maritime talent and opportunities, should tune back in 2027 to take the next steps forward to success. Nor-Shipping 2027 takes place 7-11 June.
See you there!
For further details please contact:
Sidsel Norvik
Director Nor-Shipping
Email: sn@nor-shipping.com
Phone: +47 932 56 387
Nor-Shipping 2025 didn’t just break records; it also built bridges. The 60th anniversary of the maritime event week welcomed more participants than ever before – 63,698, a 23% increase over Nor-Shipping 2023 – with an injection of new, young and ambitious attendees from Norway’s top educational centres.
Leading this charge were a handful of student ‘Ambassadors’, as part of a fresh initiative developed in collaboration with NJORD Maritime Studentforening and led by Fredrik Ingebrigtsen, Nor-Shipping’s Head of Marketing and Communications.
The Student Ambassador Programme was conceived to strengthen ties between young talent and the industry, giving participants the opportunity to contribute, connect, and help shape the event from ‘next generation’ perspectives. In a twist to proceedings, Ambassador winners were chosen based on the number of fellow students they recruited to attend Nor-Shipping.
It marked the first time such a programme had run, but, given its success, it certainly won’t be the last, says Nor-Shipping Director Sidsel Norvik.
Building momentum
Norvik comments: “Nor-Shipping is a renowned global destination for the industry, but we also want to build it into a true talent hub where students, educational institutions and businesses eager to connect with the next generation can come together and prosper.”
Ingebrigtsen says he was delighted at engagement levels, adding: “Nor-Shipping aims to become a key meeting place for the maritime industry and new talent. We don’t just want students to attend, we want Nor-Shipping to be an important arena they can take part in, help shape, and leave with new opportunities, inspiration, and connections.
Student Ambassadors meeting John Kerry at the Ocean Leadership Conference. Photo: Amalie Sydnes
He continues: “For the maritime industry to stay competitive and future ready, it is crucial that we involve, attract, and invest in fresh talent. Seeing how the Ambassadors embraced the initiative, and the connections that came from it, was incredibly rewarding. Their insight and energy brought real value, and we’re excited to build on this foundation in the years ahead.”
Huge interest
Nor-Shipping’s student ‘stars of the show’, and winners of the 2025 Student Ambassador Program, were Silje Eriksen Gresseth (BI), Regine Paulsen (University of South-Eastern Norway), and Simen Jenssen (Kristiania University). Together, they recruited well over 100 fellow students to the Lillestrøm and Oslo-based exhibition and activity programme, with Gresseth leading the way with 67 attendees.
From left: Gaute Aanesland Jørgensen (DNV), Simen Jenssen, Regine Paulsen, Silje E. Gresseth, Even With Skaar (DNV), and Fredrik Ingebrigtsen (Nor-Shipping).
She says Nor-Shipping 2025 – which, appropriately enough, had the main theme of #Future-Proof – was a unique experience and “an exciting opportunity to connect with people in the maritime industry and expand my professional network.”
She explains. “I was especially motivated by the chance to meet fellow students, who were very happy to get free access through the tickets we provided as Ambassadors, and key players with a strong interest in shipping.”
Speaking about her peers, she adds: “There was huge interest from students who are passionate about the sector. The event created a strong sense of community, and many expressed appreciation for the chance to connect, learn, and be part of such a large-scale industry gathering.”
Shaping the shift
Paulsen, from USN, agrees, noting that Nor-Shipping’s focus on enabling enhanced sustainability is a major point of interest:
“These industries are at the heart of the green transition, and our generation will be part of shaping that shift — seeing it evolve from idea to reality,” she states, continuing: “And there are so many interesting niches and areas of specialization to discover, which opens up a wide range of career paths.
“From what I saw, the students appreciated the experience and saw real value in being there.”
Jenssen enjoyed similar levels of enthusiasm and engagement, noting: “Participating at Nor-Shipping 2025 was incredibly inspiring. It was a unique opportunity to meet fellow students, companies of various sizes, and people from across the world. Being an Ambassador meant helping others see what this industry can offer – and that was a real highlight.”
Powerful tool
As the three Ambassadors with the greatest impact, Jenssen, Paulsen, and Gresseth were recognized on Nor-Shipping’s final day, 6 June, receiving a private CV and career guidance session from DNV, goodie bags from SKULD, and a featured interview article. All Ambassadors were awarded certificates from Nor-Shipping, goodie bags from Kongsberg Maritime, dinner and drinks, access to events, volunteering and networking opportunities, and more.
Anders Kårbø Rong and Hedda Markhus from NJORD – live from Finansavisen’s Nor-Shipping Studio
Speaking about the initiative, NJORD leader Anders Kårbø Rong is looking forward to “more of the same” in the future:
“Nor-Shipping is a fantastic arena for NJORD and maritime students in general — it bridges the gap between education and industry, offering real insight into what the future of shipping looks like. The ambassador initiative gave students ownership and a clear role in making Nor-Shipping a success. It created leadership opportunities and encouraged collaboration across universities and study programmes.”
He concludes: “I’d love to see the initiative grow — with more formal ambassador gatherings, dedicated sessions with industry leaders, or mentorship setups. It’s a powerful tool both for student engagement and industry visibility.”
Future Nor-Shipping Ambassadors, and all stakeholders interested in the next generation of maritime talent and opportunities, should tune back in 2027 to take the next steps forward to success. Nor-Shipping 2027 takes place 7-11 June.
See you there!
For further details please contact:
Sidsel Norvik
Director Nor-Shipping
Email: sn@nor-shipping.com
Phone: +47 932 56 387
