VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AT DONSÖ SHIPPING MEET

The shipping industry will be facing several major challenges in the coming years, in terms of sustainability, geopolitical aspects and a significant need for skills at a global level.  This was reflected in this year’s theme for the Donsö Shipping Meet (DSM), which was “We change for the future”.

“As shipping companies, suppliers and trade unions, we need to work together with our political representatives to deal with the changes required for our maritime cluster to continue to grow and be successful in the future,” said David Kristensson, Group Chief Executive Officer, Northern Offshore Services in his opening presentation at the Commercial & Financing Meet, which is part of DSM.

For two glorious days at the end of August, the nearly 3,000 visitors enjoyed seminars, panel debates, speed-meetings and an exhibition with 270 exhibitors. Stena participated with a bright and spacious stand manned by Stena Teknik, Stena Oil, Stena RoRo, Stena Line Scandinavia, Stena Rederi and Clyde Travel.

“I appreciate this as one of the best shipping fairs for us,” says Paul Cronje, Managing Director of Clyde Travel, which is part of the Northern Marine Group. “There is a nice energy here and interest in many issues, not only technology, but also in manning and business travel which is what Clyde Travel works with.”

Jan Bodén, Sales Manager for Clyde Travel in the Nordics, agrees.

“It is an excellent opportunity to meet industry colleagues as well as customers. Everyone who is here has traveled here in some way and also has opinions based on that,” he points out.

In addition to manning the stand, Paul Cronje was also responsible for Stena’s only seminar during this year’s event, which was about flight prices and what is happening in the market there.

One of the other participants at the Stena stand was Jenny Eriksson from Bunker Trader at Stena Oil.

“DSM has become an increasingly important commercial venue for monitoring what is happening in the industry and meeting people,” she explains. “It’s also a good opportunity to network between the companies within Stena. This evening, there will be over 200 people from Stena in attendance.”

For Sandra Hellgren, a trainee in the Stena Group IT Graduate Program, it was the first time on Donsö.

“Being here creates a lot of contacts, which is a good entry point and makes it easier when you want to get in touch with someone next time,” she says.

Stena was also involved in arranging the recurring seminar on safety, the DSM Safety Meet, where the main focus for the year was on new energy sources for ships. A seminar was held covering each of the alternatives on the agenda and was followed up with informal discussion sessions in the afternoon.

“I think we hit a sweet spot here, the event got lots of attention and the seminars and discussions wall were well attended,” says Martin Carlsson of Stena Teknik, part of the event’s organizing team. “In addition, we also had sessions on RoRo ship safety, with a contribution from the EU-funded LASH FIRE project just being completed. This is an interesting topic, embracing for example the new fire risks with Li-Ion batteries.”

Another important element, in which Stena Rederi was involved, was an event linked to the major need for skills supply in shipping. For the second time in a row, DSM’s HR group invited student and career counselors from all over the country to provide information on maritime professions, career paths and training programs.

“The shipping industry is facing significant recruitment needs,” says Angela Jenhed, Senior Advisor Shipping & Manning at Stena Rederi.

Approximately 250 new naval officers are needed in Sweden this year and, in addition to these, there is a great need for officers.

“At the global level, around 100,000 additional officers are needed in the coming years. And the shortage does not only apply at sea. People to staff the various government authorities and shipping offices are also needed.”

The event, which attracted over 70 participants, featured lectures and panel discussions on training programs and careers. Participants also had the opportunity to visit both new and old ships. A visit to the Swedish East Indiaman Götheborg, built according to its 18th century namesake, provided perspective.

“We learned that you needed a crew of 140 to manage such a ship back then, whereas 12 are enough for a much larger ship today,” says Lina Hansson, Study and Vocational Guidance Officer in Ljungskile in the Uddevalla municipality. “And just to manage the rudder of the four-tonne Götheborg, you needed several people, whereas today you can easily operate everything with a small joystick.”

She was very pleased with the event.

“The panel discussions were great,” says Lina Hansson. “Among other things, we learned what a day on the job can be like in concrete terms, which is good for counseling students who don’t know anything about working at sea. I’ve learned a lot myself as well. I didn’t know that the work is so varied, what the jobs entail and that there are so many different things you can do in shipping.”

ABOUT THE DONSÖ SHIPPING MEET (DSM)

The Donsö Shipping Meet is held every two years on the island of Donsö, just outside Gothenburg, Sweden. The event includes an exhibition, seminars, panel discussions and a program of organized meetings, as well as a banquet with around 2,100 seated guests. Due to the pandemic, the 2021 event/fair was moved to 2022. The next event will be held September 1–3, 2025.