5th Mare Forum Oslo 2025

The Mare Forum conferences are a hallmark for its vibrant exchange of ideas and spirited debates. High-level executives from the shipping, trade and chartering, capital providers industries, regulators and almost all shipping services providers come together in an interactive and dynamic setting to discuss the pressing issues shaping the future of the global shipping industry.

➤ Why Attend Mare Forum Oslo 2025?
- Engaging Discussions: Forget monotonous presentations. Mare Forum is all about meaningful dialogue, where panellists and audience participants engage in stimulating, unscripted conversations.
- Thought Leadership: Explore key topics like shipping's future, trade patterns, logistic
s, geopolitics, energy transition, decarbonisation, investment strategies, ship finance, and human capital imperatives.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry leaders, including shipowners, capital providers, investors, charterers, logistics professionals, energy executives, regulators, and other decision-makers shaping the maritime world.
- Realistic Solutions: If you are in shipping and want to know what will happen next, come to Mare Forum. The good answers will be there.

➤ Who Will Be There?
The event brings together a diverse group of participants, including Shipping Executives, Shipowners, and Ship Managers, Capital Providers, Investors, and Traders, Logistics Providers, Energy Executives and Charterers, Regulators, Lawyers, Consultants, Shipbuilders, Classification Societies, the Pres, and Smart Entrepreneurs.

➤ Why You Can't-Miss This
‍Mare Forum is more than a conference; it’s an annual think tank where innovation meets collaboration. It’s where the future of shipping is shaped. `
If you want answers, connections, and inspiration, this is where you’ll find them.

Don’t miss this opportunity to join the conversation defining the maritime industry’s future.

We look forward to welcoming you to Oslo!

P R O G R A M M E 

[The final list of speakers and panellists will be published soon. Stay tuned]
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P A N E L L I S T S:

‍(tentative as of 18 April)

- Knut Arild Hareide CEO, Norwegian Shipowners Association
- Anita Leirvik North Vice Mayor for Culture and Business in The City of Oslo
- Espen Gjerde, Senior Vice President NEW ENERGY, Wilh. Wilhelmsen Holding ASA
- Ioannis (Jannis) Kostoulas, President, Mare Forum
- Sotiris Raptis Secretary General European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA)
- Zhongyi (John) Su Group Chairman & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
- Jason Stefanatos Decarbonization Director, DNV
- Gavin Allwright Secretary General International Windship Association (IWSA)
- Ragnhild Høvik, Senior Project Manager, Grieg Edge
- Halvor Sveen, Chief Executive Officer , Maritime & Merchant Bank ASA
- Martin Wattum, M.Sc. Head of Energy Efficiency projects Klaveness Combination Carriers 
- Representative Lloyd's Register
- Anders Vartdal Investment Associate Motion Ventures
- Magnus Møkster Operation Engineer, Simon Møkster Shipping
- Derick Snell Strategic Growth Manager, Njord
- Chase Dwyer Co-Founder & CEO, Carbon Ridge
- Helga Cotgrove CEO, Eidesvik
- Erik Dyrkoren, Seasoned CEO & Serial Entrepreneur, Dyrkoren Consulting
- Øyvind Smogeli, CEO/CTO, Zeabuz
- Marina Tzoutzouraki CFO and co-founder, eShipfinance.com
- Nakul Malhotra Vice President Emerging Opportunities, Marine Services, Wilhelmsen Singapore
- Sofia Fürstenberg Stott Partner, Fürstenberg Maritime Advisory
- Jan Fransen, Executive Director, Green Award Foundation
- Jan Emblemsvåg, Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
- Dagfinn Lunde, Chairman and Co-founder, eShipfinance.com, and Chairman, Cleaves Securities AS
- Asgeir J. Sørensen, Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
- Torbjørn Lie, Business Development Manager, EVIGO
- Kristine Prosch, Chief Product Officer, Massterly
- Janne Silden, Senior Maritime Expert, JS Business Development
- Øyvind H. Størdal, Management Team, Oslo, Hecla Emissions Management
- Kirsi Tikka Shipping Executive
- Carl Petter Finne Managing Partner, EnvisionTech AS
- Sigrid Siksjø johansen Product Manager Performance, Maritime Products, Kongsberg Digital
- Martin Wold Vice President Business Development, Ofiniti
- Martha Nord-Varhaug Boge, Business Development Manager CCUS, Solvang ASA
- Toril Kobbeltvedt, Norwegian Shipowners Association
- Henning Kristoffersen Commercial Counselor at the Norwegian Embassy (Innovation Norway) in China
- Henk Detailleur Senior Managing Partner, Zuyderzee Capital
- Sergey Ushakov Senior Manager Machinery & Systems at Wallenius Wilhelmsen
- Kostas Gkonis Secretary General, INTERCARGO
- more panellists to be announced - stay tuned

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P R O G R A M M E 

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SESSION 1

13:00 - 13:30

Opening and Welcome

A brief introduction to set the tone for the day
Overview of key themes and objectives
Keynote speaker(s)

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- Ioannis (Jannis) Kostoulas, President, Mare Forum
- Espen Gjerde, Senior Vice President NEW ENERGY, Wilh. Wilhelmsen Holding ASA [CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN]

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
- Knut Arild Hareide, Secretary General Norwegian Shipowners Association
- Anita Leirvik North Vice Mayor for Culture and Business in The City of Oslo
- Henning Kristoffersen Commercial Counselor at the Norwegian Embassy (Innovation Norway) in China
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SESSION 2

13:30 - 14:30

The Game Change - Geopolitics, Trading, and Investments

•     Geopolitical impacts on the maritime industry
•     Changing trading patterns and shipping
•     Investment and finance opportunities in the current climate
•     Strategies for enhancing European maritime competitiveness



PANELLISTS:
- Sotiris Raptis Secretary General European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA)
- Zhongyi (John) Su Group Chairman & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
- Kostas Gkonis Secretary General, INTERCARGO
- Halvor Sveen, Chief Executive Officer , Maritime & Merchant Bank ASA
- Marina Tzoutzouraki CFO and co-founder, eShipfinance.com
- Martin Wattum, Head of Energy Efficiency projects Klaveness Combination Carriers
- Helga Cotgrove CEO, Eidesvik
- Kirsi Tikka Shipping Executive
- Toril Kobbeltvedt Norwegian Shipowners Association
- Dagfinn Lunde, Chairman, Cleaves Securities AS
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SESSION 3

14:30 - 15:30

Pioneering - Alternative Propulsion Systems and Alternative Fuels

•     Nuclear propulsion: opportunities and challenges
•     Onboard Carbon Capture technologies
•     Wind Assisted Propulsion systems: practical applications
•     Alternative fuels – sense and non-sense 


PANELLISTS:
- Gavin Allwright Secretary General International Windship Association (IWSA)
- Ragnhild Høvik, Senior Project Manager, Grieg Edge
- Magnus Møkster Operation Engineer, Simon Møkster Shipping
- Steen Sander Jacobsen Technical Director, Njord
- Chase Dwyer Co-Founder & CEO, Carbon Ridge
- Jan Emblemsvåg, Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
- Torbjørn Lie, Business Development Manager, EVIGO
- Martha  Nord-Varhaug Boge, Business Development Manager CCUS, Solvang ASA
- Sergey Ushakov Senior Manager Machinery & Systems at Wallenius Wilhelmsen

15:30 - 15:50:
Networking Break - Refreshments and informal discussions

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SESSION 4

15:50 - 16:40:

The Future of AI in Shipping - Realities and  Myths

•            Challenges in implementing AI at scale
•            Aligning stakeholder efforts for successful AI adoption
•            Necessary safeguards for AI deployment
•            Balancing innovation and regulation

PANELLISTS:
- Jason Stefanatos Decarbonization Director, DNV
- Erik Dyrkoren, Seasoned CEO & Serial Entrepreneur, Dyrkoren Consulting
- Øyvind Smogeli, CEO/CTO, Zeabuz
- Asgeir J. Sørensen, Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
- Kristine Prosch, Chief Product Officer, Massterly
- Sigrid Siksjø Johansen Product Manager Performance, Maritime Products, Kongsberg Digital
- more panellists to be announced
 
SESSION 5

16:40 - 17:40

Inventing the Future -Maritime Cluster Technologies

•     Showcase of innovative maritime technologies
•     Case studies of successful implementations
•     Future projections and potential global impact
•     ⁠maritime startups and venture capital

PANELLISTS:
- Carl Petter Finne Managing Partner, EnvisionTech AS
- Anders Vartdal Investment Associate Motion Ventures
- Jan Fransen, Executive Director, Green Award Foundation
- Nakul Malhotra Vice President Emerging Opportunities, Marine Services, Wilhelmsen Singapore
- Henk Detailleur Senior Managing Partner, Zuyderzee Capital
- Sofia Fürstenberg Stott Partner, Fürstenberg Maritime Advisory
- Martin Wold Vice President Business Development, Ofiniti
- Janne Silden, Senior Maritime Expert, JS Business Development
- Øyvind H. Størdal, Management Team, Oslo, Hecla Emissions Management
- more panellists to be announced
 
17:40 - 18:00

Closing Remarks and Next Steps