Winner of Blue Maritime Award 2026 - Sigbjørn Akselvoll
Sigbjørn Akselvoll awarded the Blue Maritime Award 2026
Sigbjørn Akselvoll was awarded the hounerable Blue Maritime Award for his life-long contribution to the maritime cluster at this year's Maritime Cluster Conference in Ålesund. The award was handed out by jury memeber and innovation manaager at NTNU, Anne Seth.
The jury's explanation:
The winner's driving force has, all the way through, been to develop new vessels and solutions in close collaboration with his colleagues, the shipowners, designers and equipment suppliers. Together, they have helped create thousands of jobs and built local communities. In addition, the ships that have been designed and built have put Norwegian shipbuilding and ship design on the world map.
The first boat he designed himself was in 1964. That became the start of the Storskøyte program, which ended up as a series of no fewer than ten vessels. Since then, he has helped develop and build a wide range of vessels – within fisheries, freight, offshore, ferries, seismic, research and defence – and along the way has filled roles in engineering, sales and management.
The winner began his career in the maritime cluster at Langsten in 1959. From there began a remarkable shipyard journey. From a family- and locally-owned workshop, via the establishment of the Langsten Group and on through several changes of ownership: from Norwegian-anchored Aker Yards, via foreign owners, to today's international group VARD. After a full 60 years in the industry, he retired in 2019.
Today, the winner still lives in Tomrefjord and remains involved in the restoration of the galeas Søblomsten – one of the oldest preserved vessels from our own maritime history. The man who helped build the ships of the future now spends his time taking care of those of the past.
Against this whole background, it is therefore a great pleasure to be able to announce that this year's Honorary Award goes to a man who proves that great industrial success stories are built not only by innovation, but by people: Sigbjørn Akselvoll!
We congratulate Sigbjørn with the well deserved award!
