Market seminar on board AIDAnova in Ålesund
31. okt. 2025
As part of the Norwegian national export initiative for the cruise and ferry industry, GCE Blue Maritime Cluster and Innovation Norway hosted a dedicated market seminar on board AIDAnova while the vessel was docked in Ålesund on October 29.
The event brought together nearly 90 participants from across the Norwegian maritime industry – suppliers, cluster members, and industry colleagues – for a day of knowledge sharing, networking, and exchange of experience within the cruise and ferry segment.
The program featured presentations from key industry representatives, including Sandra Diana Bratland, Director Destination Affairs at Carnival Norway, Monty Mathisen from Cruise Industry News, and Roland Strom from OSM Thome, along with a presentation by Knut Tore Aurdal, Head of Projects at GCE Blue Maritime Cluster, who introduced the new national export project targeting the cruise and ferry industry.
Participants were also invited on an exclusive tour of AIDAnova, one of the world’s largest and most advanced LNG-powered cruise ships. The visit offered a broad and valuable insight into the vessel’s operations – from technical systems and sustainability solutions to interior design and daily management on board.
The seminar forms part of a broader national effort launched at Nor-Shipping 2025 to strengthen Norwegian maritime export capacity. With support from Innovation Norway’s international offices and the Norwegian Cruise and Ferry Group, the project aims to bring Norwegian suppliers closer to key global decision-makers and strengthen the visibility and competitiveness of Norwegian maritime technology and expertise worldwide.
“We believe in the power of collaboration,” says Head of Projects and Innovation Knut Tore Aurdal. “When Norwegian maritime suppliers stand together, we can take a much stronger position internationally.”
The initiative runs in close cooperation with the green maritime export program led by Maritime CleanTech. We will work closely with this effort moving forward, and together strengthen the competitiveness of Norwegian maritime companies as part of the government’s goal to increase Norwegian mainland exports by 50% by 2030.
Photo: AIDAnova
