I think it is that we now after ten years start to understand the real meaning of care.

Here are a number of questions that arose and were shared at the time of its introduction.

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF CARE?

• CARE nurtures wellbeing, innovation and performance and is the foundation for everything we do.
• CARE is what makes life possible.
• CARE is why and with what attention, rather then what and how, we do things.

DEALING WITH CARE IN MY WHITE BOOK

In our dealings with each other, we should apply the ”golden rule” – do to others what you would expect others to do to you. If you hesitate, ask the question ”What would the world look like if everyone behaved in the same way?”

• If we always do our best and show respect for people, capital and the world around us, the tensions in the company will decrease and justice will be easier to achieve.
• A continuously safe operation is the best way of showing respect for people.
• Closely related to respect for other people is to always deliver on time, arrive on time and end meetings on time.
• Closely related to respect for capital is to economize with material resources, fear losses and generate profit.

Our capital is the result of our collective work till today. No one will give us new money. So Please! Do not waste our money! We shall invest with our money.

• At Stena you are an individual and not a number as one of our employees put it.
• Care is respect for the dignity and the worth of every human being.

DEALING WITH CARE AS THE BASE FOR OUR INTERDEPENDENT RELATIONSHIPS

We keep guarding Trust, Integrity, Diplomacy, Tactfulness and Footprints. True care is about creating value and success for all our stakeholders. It should be good for Customers AND Employees AND Partners AND Our company AND Society.

EXPRESSIONS OF CARE IN STENA

With consumers as our customers, the key success factors are Experiences, Relationships, Value for time and money, Accessi-bility and Brand recognition.

Or as our staff puts it: Care affects everyone that we provide a service for by:

• Creating value and footprints in everything we do;
• Always making sure that Stena is the fun place to be!

With other businesses as our customers, it is always about selling customer value by understanding customer needs and ambitions. It is about value instead of price related to the cost to produce. To demonstrate verification of benefit is much better than a vague promise of value.

CARE for creating employee success is about Leadership from the top in harmony with agreed rules and roles from the bottom. Leadership at Stena is built on Delegated Business acumen and authority. Everyone has an entrusted authority with which to fulfill his/her tasks and objectives cheaply and effectively, which means:

• You alone are responsible and you own the problem.
• Within your power reserved list, you must make your decisions yourself but can ask for help from others.
• With support from specialists you know better yourself.
• Delegation must be into the organization and rarely upwards – check for delivery.
• Take responsibility – never abdicate.
• Personal development talk and training every year for everyone.
• To capable persons more can be delegated and training helps a lot.
• Talk and communicate a lot. Information must be free.
• Do not blame each other. Help each other instead. Ask for help in time and we can adjust together. You are always responsible although your influence was not direct.

Understand the difference between advice, recommendation, strong recommendation, and order.

CARE and safety are about discipline. Putting care into systems and routines, Checklists, and Mindset, Repeat your successful acts and behavior and Learn from and share what did or did not turn out well.

BM= Brilliant Global Benchmark is based on about 600,000 responses from over 250 organisations (Nordic and international).

BM-HP=Brilliant High Performance Benchmark is based on about 80,000 responses from the top 10% of Brilliant’s customers (Nordic and international).

Do not duplicate or distribute without permission from Stena.

QUOTES FROM FIVE STENA EMPLOYEES:

“Caring is the constant attention to details.”

“Care makes an ocean of difference.”

”If everyone is moving forward together, doing your duty with that bit extra, then success takes care of itself!”

”It takes a village to raise a child (African proverb), and so it should take the efforts and care of the entire rig crew to train the new employee.”

“Care is giving the world reasons to smile.”

Care is at its best in each individual meeting. To care about each other at work affects our relationship with customers and ultimately our bottom line. We spend a lot of our time working and the goal is to achieve good results together with joy and care in everything we do. Each year we carry out our employee survey Stena Pulse. All our employees shall be given the opportunity to be listen to and talk about their work environment.

This year we can look forward to a positive trend in our Stena Pulse indices and a big improvement regarding eNPS that measures the Stena employer brand. However, our well-being is important and despite good overall results the most important thing how we work with continuous improvement in each individual team.

As our partners invest in us we shall reciprocate and CARE is to create success for our partners in order to achieve Customer excellence, Operational excellence, Marketing and communication excellence, and Better business.

Our Partnerships involve Equipment-manufacturers/suppliers, Shipyards, Supply Chain Participants, Customers, Suppliers of contacts, design, intelligence and training, Banks, and the Public sector.

CARE IS CREATING SUCCESS FOR THE COMPANY

• Make money for the company by Business acumen
• Objective achievement Best practice Benchmarking
• Continuance Durability
• Business Enjoyment

The difference between a badly run and a well-run company is normally not more than 5-8% so Care is also about winning sometimes only with 1/100 of a second.

FROM OUR EMPLOYEES:

“No loss should ever hit us which can be avoided by constant care.”

“Care is spelled DEVELOPMENT, by caring I develop and seek for the solution in each situation.”

As society invests in us we shall reciprocate by investing in society. CARE is to create success for society not only for now but also for future generations. Our objectives are Sustainability, Job Creation, Contribution to education, Harmony, and Continuance.

Today’s world binds us together moment for moment. Quite often we also have to relate to, what is actually happening from moment to moment. We have to deal with both persons and situations that put stress on us. Please always take and use the time available to reflect and think before reacting and answering. In many cases reactions and answers are necessary.

In other cases, they are not or more preparatory time can be asked for. One must always deliver though before time has run out. At that moment one must be fearless, but be prepared to act with gentleness and intelligence. Dealing with hope and fear and living with uncertainty is normal and a must. If you think of it as a Positive Uncertainty, on which you can innovate and develop, it is easier. At the end of the day, we need to take responsibility for ourselves. Working together and caring for each other means, perfection is possible, and we are less alone to find balance and well-being.

Thank you for your efforts this year. Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dan Sten Olsson, CEO

Göteborg December 2022

When I was a child we children always put on a Christmas play for school in our church in December. We celebrated the events surrounding Jesus’ birth with the three wise men, Joseph and Mary with the baby Jesus in his manger. I have warm and joyful memories of this.

Christmas is a holiday that should be spent together with your loved ones. Unfortunately, this isn’t something possible for all.

I know first-hand that not everyone is doing all that well, as even close to me I have identified those who are less fortunate and were unable to experience Christmas as a warm and pleasant holiday. My thoughts are with those who are alone, those who cannot afford to buy food and Christmas presents for their children and those who do not have a home in which to celebrate Christmas.

War and poverty in other parts of the world are causes for concern. Let’s hope that next year will bring peace and joy.

That’s why I want to remind you all that Christmas is a good time to care and help each other. If you want to make a difference, now is the time to do so.

Christmas, Christmas glorious Christmas
Shine over white forests
The crowns of heaven with sparkling lights
Glistening bows in each of God’s houses

(Swedish Christmas carol)

The aim of the project, which is a partnership with the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD), is to study hands-on how the carbon capture technology works in a marine environment.

“Carbon capture is gaining a lot of traction. In the newly released Energy Transition Outlook 2022, DNV estimates that a quarter of net decarbonization by 2050 will rely on carbon capture and removal,” says Peter Björkborg, Manager Sustainability and Transformation at Stena Bulk.

Carbon capture is the process of trapping carbon dioxide at its emission source, transporting it to natural, underground storage locations, often depleted oil wells, and isolating it there. The captured CO2 can also be reutilized in the production of new fuels and chemicals or be used as a fertilizer.

“Decarbonizing our society is a massive challenge that will require a palette of solutions in the form of fossil-free energy sources, new energy carriers and energy efficiency technology,” Peter explains.

He continues: “The challenge in decarbonizing shipping is about scaling and commercial feasibility. The green fuels we need are not yet available in relevant quantities, and even if they scale quickly, it will still not be enough. In the near to mid-term perspective, carbon capture could enable our industry to move faster.”

A feasibility study, made by Stena Bulk and the OGCI last year, demonstrated that carbon capture on a ship is certainly possible, but that it also comes with challenges.

“The study gained a lot of attention among our partners, customers and others, so we decided to move forward with an implementation project aiming at installing a full-scale capture system on one of our tankers,” Peter says.

The installation, which is expected to be completed in the beginning of 2024, consists of three major technical steps.

Initially, carbon dioxide emitted by the engines is captured by a technology integrated in the funnel at the stern of the ship. The exhaust gases are showered with a chemical that captures the CO2. Then, the chemicals are separated to produce pure CO2.

The two remaining parts of the installation are located on the deck of the tanker. The CO2 is cooled and compressed into a liquid and finally stored in pressure tanks until it is offloaded in the port.

“Our initial goal is to capture at least 30 percent of the CO2 in the exhausts. One of the main practical challenges is that captured volumes are growing rapidly. The initial system is dimensioned to operate about ten days before the CO2 needs to be offloaded,” Peter explains.

He concludes: “The experience of storing and transporting CO2 could also be of commercial relevance for us. The gas may eventually become a commodity that needs to be transported and traded. We know that some of our most important customers are investing heavily in this.”

In addition to the study, Stena Fastigheter has interviewed young people who have worked in the company’s neighborhoods during the summers about their faith in the future. They have openly and generously shared their goals and thoughts on the future.

Young people have always had faith in the future. When it’s broken, it’s easy to end up on the wrong track in life and this has a negative impact on them as well as on our society as a whole. Naturally, our job is to never to let young people down.”

Dan Sten Olsson, CEO, Stena AB.

Stena Fastigheter’s neighborhoods in Sweden are home to 15,000 young people under the age of 25. The company has a clear mission from Dan Sten Olsson, CEO of Stena AB, to safeguard young people’s faith in the future – and to nurture it. To increase the company’s knowledge of young people, and to target initiatives where they will do the most good Stena Fastigheter turned to the researchers with the following question:

Do young people have faith in the future? And the response was both surprising and inspiring, as the general image of young people can be perceived as gloomy: Young people have strong faith in the future, despite all the challenges we are facing today.

“The studies we’ve seen show that young people’s faith in the future has never been stronger,” says Peter Majanen, trend researcher and CEO of Quattroporte, which conducted the study on behalf of Stena Fastigheter. “It is also evenly distributed. Regardless of socio-economic background, ethnicity or gender, faith is strong. There is a mixture between faith in the future and concern about the development of society in general. If you ask young people if they think they will do well in the future, most of them do. However, if you ask them if they are worried about climate change or racism, then they are very worried.”

INITIATIVES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS

In Stena Fastigheter’s overall work with social sustainability, work is carried on the basis of four focus areas: safety, work, school and leisure. To create better life opportunities for young people living in Stena Fastigheter’s neighborhoods, the company is investing in homework help, internships, vacation jobs and summer jobs, with a focus on harnessing young people’s entrepreneurial skills, where they are given the opportunity to develop their ideas. But Stena Fastigheter wants to do even more – together with others.

“We are pleased with the results of the study, since we can also see that young people in our neighborhoods have strong faith in the future,” says Cecilia Fredholm Vaarning, who heads the department for sustainable business operations at Stena Fastigheter. “We are encouraged by what we are already doing, but we want to do more together with others. Based on the study, we will be arranging more opportunities to talk about faith in the future, to create inspiration, to deepen the conversation and find more ways of collaborating. Let’s join together in working with young people’s faith in the future.”

CONCLUSION – META-STUDY

Young people have strong faith in the future and are confident in their own abilities to create their own future. They have confidence and motivation, regardless of gender, ethnicity or socio-economic background. There is a mixture of individual faith in the future and a general concern for the development of society. The meta-study and analysis were conducted by Quattroporte.

METHOD

Quattroporte has gone through a large number of sources and added its own analyses of existing data and big data, to find out about young people’s faith in the future and urban development. Work encompassed:

• More than 50 scientifically published articles on faith in the future, youth and urban development.
• Over 1 million interviews in big data, raw data format consisting of 3 billion web pages. 25 examples focusing on urban
  development and youth.
• Together, this meta-study produced an analysis grounded on broad empirical evidence. The research area is relatively new, but interest has increased in recent years. Prior to 2010, research was mainly conducted in the United States. The majority of the analyses have been carried out in socially deprived areas. In 2010, the CILS4EU study was launched to investigate confidence in the future based on the latest research. The studies have been conducted in Sweden and a number of other EU countries.

“We’re seeking to bridge the knowledge gap when it comes to calculating ship performance using digital tools,” comments Jacob Norrby, Head of Newbuilds and Projects at Stena Teknik.

Norrby explains that JoRes, led by the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN), seeks to validate digital models for predicting vessel performance, in order eventually to be able to use them as a verified replacement for real-world data.

PERFORMANCE OPTIMISATIONS

This will allow shipping companies to verify performance optimisations in a way that is significantly more time-, cost- and resource-efficient than it is today. This, in turn, will ultimately enable them to enhance energy efficiency and cut emissions.

In the words of JoRes project manager, Dr. Dmitriy Ponkratov: “The validation of these numerical methods will enable future naval architects to build more energy-efficient vessels than the ones we have today.”

Norrby agrees: “We’re striving to increase confidence in numerical methods and create a basis to further ship performance improvement and industry digitalisation,” he says.

So, how is this done?

Dr. Ponkratov explains that, up to now, there has never been a reliable and accurate instrument to measure the flow around a vessel – which is one of the key parameters for evaluating performance efficiency.

“How are we then supposed to optimise the ship hull and propulsion system if we do not know the details of the flow?” he asks.

PARTICLE IMAGE VELOCIMETRY

The scientists at MARIN may have found the solution. Their method involves installing Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurement equipment above the propeller of a ship. PIV is a technique that uses a strong light source (typically a laser) to illuminate particles contained in a 2D plane of the flow. The reflected light is captured by high-speed cameras, after which the particle images are analysed to determine the velocity field in the part of the flow illuminated by the laser.

In March this year, the PIV equipment was installed on the Stena Immaculate in the Port of Mina Salman, Bahrain, after which a series of open-sea tests were carried out in the Persian Gulf. A method called Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was then used to calculate the flow around this particular hull for the exact conditions of the tests.

The end goal? To compare the CFD results with actual PIV flow measurements and validate numerical methods that can be reliably used for future hull designs.

TEAM EFFORT

Stena Teknik is just one of the Stena companies involved in the JoRes project, which began in 2019 and is slated for completion in 2023. The others are Stena Bulk and Northern Marine Management.

Jo Pendleton, a project manager with Northern Marine Management, was responsible for coordinating all the activities and bringing the stakeholders from Stena and MARIN together in the Middle East.

“As the facilitator, it was my job to put the clever people together in the right place at the right time,” she says, adding that she is proud to have been part of such an important project.

As for Stena Bulk, its contribution was perhaps the most crucial of all: the vessel itself.

“We believe it’s in our best interest that the industry takes steps to improve energy efficiency,” comments Daniel Edvall, Manager Fleet Operations, Stena Bulk, adding: “As ship owners, we pride ourselves on contributing to research. If we can use one of our vessels for a short period of time to aid the research society for a better future, then we’ll try to make that happen.”

COLLABORATION IS KEY

Everyone agrees the collaboration was a major factor in the success of the project.

“Stena’s support was just amazing,” says Ponkratov, who has never met the Stena team in person due to Covid-related constraints. “We’re grateful for the time and resources they were able to dedicate.”

“It was a huge team effort,” confirms Norrby.

“Looking at Stena and the individuals involved, I think it demonstrated the fantastic entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills in our company,” adds Edvall.

“I wish all my projects were like this,” concludes Pendleton. “We had a great team, and it was so enjoyable, although it involved hard work and a lot of head-scratching.”

Keena Trowell, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at McMaster University, Ontario and Pascal Boudreau PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at McGill University, Montreal, recently won a student team compe-tition arranged by the British Consulate-General (BCG) in Montreal to find the best student-developed solution to greening the shipping industry.

As part of their prize, the pair joined representatives from the BCG on a week-long tour of the UK where they met fellow academics and companies operating at the vanguard of sustain-able shipping.

The trip culminated with an afternoon event in Northern Marine’s Glasgow auditorium where presentations were shared on respective projects on zero-carbon fuels in shipping, such as hydrogen and ammonia, as well as respective required transportation solutions and infrastructure.

Tritec Marine itself is working on innovative sustainable shipping solutions, including the recently announced MOU with Provaris Energy Ltd., who intend to build compressed hydrogen carriers.

George Mermeris, General Manager and Director, Tritec Marine Ltd. said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Keena, Pascal, representatives from the British Consulate General in Montreal and the many talented students from Strathclyde University’s school of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering to our facilities.

“It was a tremendous opportunity to share information and opinions on respective projects which are all contributing towards answering the most important and fundamental question of our industry’s history: how do we achieve truly sustain-able, commercially viable shipping solutions?”

Following the event, Keena and Pascal added in a joint statement: “We were very grateful for the opportunity to present our project on greening the shipping industry using aluminium water reactions to produce hydrogen to students, naval architects and marine engineers from Tritec Marine and Strathclyde University. The feedback we received will be very valuable as we look to advance our research.”

The network was started in the spring of 2021 during the pandemic, which entailed that the first three meetings were held digitally. Last autumn they met for the first time in a social context. The meeting, which lasted for two days, started with Dan Sten Olsson, sponsor of the network, welcoming the participants. After the purpose of the network was presented, it was time for the first discussion of the evening. Cecilia Fasth, CEO for Stena Fastigheter and Annika Hult, Deputy CEO for Stena AB spoke, with Alexandra Thomas serving as the moderator.

During the meeting, the participants were able to take part in Stena’s financial results, presented by Annika Hult. Elisabet Lönne, member of the management group, Stena Line, and Agneta Kores, CEO, Stena Fastigheter Göteborg AB, openly shared experiences from their careers with the participants. To further strengthen and inspire the participants, there were external speakers – Casper von Koskull from Stena’s board, who spoke of the changed geopolitical landscape regarding the challenges and opportunities for reaching set development goals, and author and communications expert Colin Moon. Colin gave a talk on the differences between Swedish and other countries’ business cultures. During both days of the meeting there was time for networking and discussions in smaller groups.

Many women in our sphere are at workplaces with few women. A network then means a lot. I appreciated being able to contribute with my experiences at the meeting, but I also got a lot back in the conversations and from the interesting and varied program.

Agneta Kores, CEO, Stena Fastigheter Göteborg AB

The networking meetings give me the opportunity to build relationships with other female leaders and specialists at Stena. This creates a safe base for exchanging experiences and receiving advice from women in other business areas.

Susanne Bergstrand, Accounting Manager Legal, Stena AB

PURPOSE

• Present female role models
• Enable contact between female leaders at Stena
• Identify young women as potential leaders
• Create a safe place to discuss challenges regarding gender equality
• Strengthen women in leadership positions

Until this point, Stena Line’s official internal communication tools weren’t reaching everyone. Many of the employees work onboard vessels or in ports and terminals, where they don’t have desktop computers. This put the current intranet out of their reach.

INVESTED IN INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

In 2021, employees were asked about internal communications in the employee survey Stena Line Pulse. The survey indicated that many employees believed that the internal communication could be improved and that they wanted more information about the future direction of the company.

“At Stena Line, and the rest of the Stena family, caring for our people is a part of our DNA and we are committed to create a sustainable working environment. For people to thrive in their work, they need to feel engaged. It’s important to make sure all employees receive the same information at the same time and know where the company’s heading. It is also important to be inclusive and transparent in the internal communication. Everyone should get the chance to have their voices heard about company decisions, and to exchange best practice with colleagues around the company”, says Camilla Melander Kanz, Internal Communication Manager at Stena Line.

“To create engagement, we want to go from one-way internal communication to dialogue and promote a culture of dialogue where everyone is included”, Camilla adds.

With this background, Stena Line decided to invest in a new internal communications solution that would reach everyone in the company.

INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE

Stena Line Life, our brand new employee app and intranet is launching in the end of November in Baltic Sea South, the North Sea and Denmark (including HQ). The remaining three regions will get the new app and intranet in the beginning of 2023.  Since it’s available to download on a mobile device as well as a desktop, everyone – no matter their role or location – can access it.

Stena Line Life will be a hub where the employees can access most of the internal communications and tools and will make sure that everyone – whether they work on shore or at sea – has access to the same information, at the same time. It is at the heart of the Stena Line community, and everyone can find a home there.

Employees can see updates from the Stena Line Group, HR and IT as well as their region and other regions – personalising the news they receive. They can also join many different communities connected to different parts of the company. Text, images or short videos can be posted in Stena Line communities and, colleagues can also comment on or like other people’s posts.

“The app is voluntary to use, but available to everyone, so we all have a home for communicating with each other and with Stena Line”, says Camilla Melander Kanz.

EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION-MAKING FOR STENA LINE LIFE

Developing Stena Line Life has been a long journey. The Stena Line Life project team have been out in all our regions and talked to colleagues working in offices, ports, terminals and vessels to hear about their experiences of Stena Line’s internal communications, and what they want from future internal communications channels. Stena Line Life is the outcome of the response.

Once the app has launched, it will provide data that can be used together with feedback from the employees, to improve Stena Line Life over time.

A HOME FOR EVERYONE AT STENA LINE

”I truly believe that Stena Line Life will create a stronger sense of connection across the whole of Stena Line, as we work to be a trusted link between people, places and societies. We have made a special effort to ensure that people in our ports, vessels and terminals, who have traditionally missed out on Stena Line news, can access Stena Line Life. Stena Line Life will be a home for everyone at Stena Line,” says Niclas Mårtensson, CEO Stena Line.

What do you do at Stena Drilling?

I am the Master/OIM on Drillships, currently assigned to the Stena Evolution project in Korea.

What made you choose Stena Drilling?

I had spent many years working my way through the ranks in the Merchant Navy and later in the offshore sector. I had heard very positive feedback about Stena Drilling and how they manage their vessels and treat their personnel.

I applied to Stena Drilling and met with Nick Anders (Marine Manager at that time) for a Bargemaster interview. The interview went well, and I really got a feeling that Stena managed their business in a very professional manner.

I was taking a step back from Master to Bargemaster (Chief Officer), however, looking at the long game I felt that Stena Drilling was the company that I wanted to work for. That was in 2011 and I was given the opportunity to sail as Master/OIM again in 2014.

What do you like about working for Stena Drilling?

Every day is different and new challenges are always just around the corner.  To be able to manage change we must have the right people both offshore and onshore to rely on – Stena Drilling has that.

What is the best thing about your job?

Being part of a focused and driven professional team – everyone is aware of the end goal and will go the extra mile to achieve more.

Tell us about your career path

I attended marine college in cork (Ireland) studying Nautical Science. While in college I was offered a cadetship with Mobil shipping (now ExxonMobil), primarily working on their VLCC deep sea fleet doing five-month trips. Having worked for Mobil shipping as 3rd Mate after leaving college I was given the opportunity to work on a Dynamically Positioned FPSO (Floating Production Storage & Offloading) vessel which specialised in extended well testing. I spent 9 years with that company starting as 3rd Mate and progressing to Deck Officer, DPO and eventually getting to Master/OIM. I then had a brief time with another drilling contractor in the role of Master. In 2011 I joined Stena Drilling as Bargemaster and was lucky enough to be assigned to the Stena DrillMAX. 

In 2013 I was promoted to the position of trainee Master/OIM.  This was an excellent initiative giving me the time to get around the fleet and see how the Master/OIM’s managed their vessels before getting overall responsibility myself.  In 2014 I was permanently assigned as Master/OIM to the semi-submersible Stena Clyde working offshore in Australia.  In 2016 I was seconded to work in the Aberdeen office as a Marine Assistant. This was a varied role that resulted in working on numerous successful projects. From 2018 until October 2022, I was the Master/OIM on Stena Forth before moving to Korea in October 2022 to begin my current role.

What are the values that drive you?

Always give 100% to everything – if it doesn’t work out then at least you have tried your best. With proper planning and the right focused team, you will be amazed at what you can achieve.

What is the best advice that you have ever been given?

Teamwork is key for a successful operation.

Tell us a surprising or fun fact about you?

I am Ireland’s worst surfer. It looks more like controlled drowning!

What are your top 3 favorite podcasts/books?

‘Finding my Voice’, Mike Reilly

‘Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong’, David Walsh

‘Extreme Ownership’, Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

I enjoy spending time with my family. 

I have also just completed my first full Ironman Triathlon and want to continue challenging myself at this sport.

The ship will operate on Marine Atlantic’s ferry route in eastern Canada between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. The order was placed in the summer of 2021 and delivery from the shipyard is expected during the first quarter of 2024.

Keel laying is the starting point for the construction phase, where the hull and other components are put in place. During the ceremony, with wishes for happiness and prosperity during upcoming voyages, a few coins were placed under the keel for good luck in keeping with a tradition dating back to the age of sail. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the shipyard, as well as from Marine Atlantic and Stena RoRo.

Bo Christensen, who was in China on behalf of Stena RoRos, had this to say; “Keel laying is always special as it marks the start of construction. Although we would have liked to have had our customers from Canada in attendance, they were able to participate via Teams, just as Stena RoRo in Gothenburg.”

A long-term charter agreement has been signed with Canadian state-owned Marine Atlantic and the vessel is being built for LNG operation and with installation of a substantial battery hybrid package.

Stena RoRo’s commitment continues through the sponsorship of two Swedish volunteers who will thus be able to contribute with their important professional skills for a longer period of time.

Tommie Kristensson is a coxswain from Gothenburg and has been a seaman since he was 17 years old. He began volunteering for Mercy Ships in the autumn of 2020. Thanks to Stena RoRo’s sponsorship, he can continue as a volunteer until the end of 2024, serving as the second mate and safety officer on board.

“Mercy Ships enables me to apply my skills in seamanship in working with humanitarian aid and this is something that feels very meaningful,” says Tommie. “Being a part of the community on board, with all the nationalities… is a unique experience. Everyone is here for the same reason – to help out and do what we can for the poor.”

“For certain positions on board, it is particularly important for us to have professionals who stay on for a longer period of time,” says Stefan Sonesson, who heads Mercy Ships Sweden. “Dedicated corporate partners such as Stena RoRo, that provide financial support to our volunteers, mean a lot for the quality and sustainability of our efforts.”

Stena RoRo’s support has also enabled Maria Ekstrand from Gothenburg, to volunteer. She has recently completed her service as a team leader in the dining rooms on both the Africa Mercy and Global Mercy since the spring of 2021.

“We are proud of the Global Mercy and happy to be able to continue contributing to Mercy Ships’ amazing work in helping the most vulnerable,” says Per Westling, Managing Director of Stena RoRo.

According to tradition the meeting started with a joint lunch and then it was time for the first lecture of the day on the subject of internal politics. Internal politics is a force beneath the surface and a way of using one’s social abilities to get one’s way. It concerns structures within a company and how these structures and relationships are used and affect work.

“Quite often, assistants and coordinators can feel alone in a corporate structure,” says Mats Erwald lecturer in office politics at the Erwald Group. “They are at the heart of things and are expected to be loyal to their company and their supervisors but also to their colleagues. Those in this role can often be subjected to pressure and if it is not understood what is going on, it can be very frustrating. You need to feel secure with your relationships and your decisions and understand that you are a part of the game, whether you like it or not.”

The lecture included presentation of a case, different ownership structures and how these can affect internal politics, the definition of internal politics, how to avoid pitfalls and also group exercises and joint discussions.

Time to go on with the group to Falkenberg Strandbad. On the bus, Jeanette presented a number of film clips from this year’s Sphere Forum to give a flavor of this year’ theme – ”Stronger together – Combining Perspectives”.

The next topic on the agenda was the menopause. According to a study in the UK*, figures show that 1 in 10 women leave their jobs due to menopausal symptoms and that 1 in 4 consider doing so. At the same time, women are the fastest growing members of the workforce, and companies need tools to attract and retain their female employees who are going through menopause.

Torild Stokes, Stena UK Ltd, who gave the presentation, works to help companies and organizations with training and coaching on the subject of menopause.

Generally, menopause – a natural stage that occurs in every woman’s life – is divided into pre-menopause which usually comes at an age between 45 and 50 and menopause itself is when menstruation has not occurred for 12 months. All women’s experiences of the stages are unique, but some of the symptoms that can affect work are feeling overwhelmed, difficulty in concentrating, difficulty in remembering things, decreased self-confidence and sleep problems. Most women find this more bothersome than hot flushes and sweating at night.

“In the UK, people are raising the issue because they are beginning to realize the scale of the problem,” Torild says. “Many shipping companies in the UK are preparing menopause policy documents and are working to include menopausal issues as part of their diversity, equity, and inclusion statements.

“That’s a good first step. Now when we’re investing in getting more women into leadership positions, it can be devastating if they choose to quit or reduce their working hours because of problems we have too little knowledge of. That companies and management teams are increasing their awareness is good. We need allies, but we as women must have an open dialogue on the topic and talk to each other to remove the stigma of menopause. We need to build confidence through knowledge, so that we can meet this transition to a new stage in life in a positive way,”
Torild concludes.

“For me, inline skating is a pure exercise sport,” says Helena Nyman. “I skate with a club called Malmö City Skaters that brings together adults of all ages. We have participants between 18 and 80 years of age, and with varying skill levels. Each training session has a supervising trainer. For example, we practice different turns, skating in urban terrain, skating in packs, meaning skating close together, or relays. When I train, I like it when there is a technical challenge to motivate me in getting better at what I do. Training like this also gives me good balance, strength and fitness at the same time. I like that.”

How would you describe inline skating to someone who has never done it before?

“Inline skating is much the same as ice skating and has similar areas of practice. We have members in the club who come from figure skating, short track skating and cross-country skating. Here you can train for long tours on inline skates or skating fast in races, or to become proficient at dealing with obstacles and hilly terrain.”

What do you like about skating?

“I like being outside, the wind in my hair and being able to hone my skills and get better at something while getting my exercise. We have many people in the club who are newcomers to the city who have found a community through inline skating. I think these kinds of relationship-building activities are particularly good. We practice at IKEA’s parking lot in Malmö, and at the end of each semester we get together for dinner. This contributes to a sense of community that you don’t get if you work out in a gym, for example.”

You have also participated in the Berlin Inline Marathon. How was that?

“The Berlin Inline Marathon is a combined exercise and competitive race where even the world’s most elite participate. Inline skating is not an Olympic sport and does not have world championships or the like, which means that the very best are competing in this type of competition. I think that makes it even more fun. A race is set up like a foot race where the participants’ starting positions are based on previous race results. I skated in the race together with my club mates and we had a common goal to complete the race in under
1 hour and 50 minutes, which we did.”

What are your best memories from the event?

“It was a great feeling to skate 42 kilometers through Berlin, finishing at the Brandenburg Gate. You get a good perception of the city in a way that would otherwise have taken a very long time. The feeling of skating in an urban environment without having to pay attention to cars, crossing strollers or red lights is amazing. This year I did the 42 kilometers in 1 hour and 47 minutes, but next year I’ll try to do it even faster. Everyone who took part enjoys skating fast, but above all we make sure we have fun. We sing and shout out our chants as we compete against the other teams we meet.”

3 TOP TIPS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO START WITH INLINE SKATING

• See if there is a club near where you live. Join them! Dare to join in even if you haven’t been at it for long or never tried it before.
• Get a good pair of inline skates. It’s more fun if you have good gear. If you’ve skated before, try a pair with bigger wheels. They’re faster, making it easier to skate longer distances.
• Always wear a helmet.

The demand for green investment opportunities is on a steady increase. But with a growing selection, investors may find it difficult to judge to what extent a specific bond and its framework contribute to a more sustainable future. The analysis institute Cicero provides independent research-based opinions of green investments and has provided the second opinion for both green bonds issued by Stena Metall Group so far.

The first of Stena Metall Group’s green bonds were issued in 2018 to the amount of 800 MSEK, and the second one, issued in 2022, amounted to 1 billion SEK. Both bonds received a rating of Dark Green, which is the highest possible rating. The shades of green reflect the extent to which investments and operations contribute to a low carbon and climate resilient future.

Cicero also issues an annual best practice report as guidance for investors. Stena Metall Group’s latest green bond is included as best practice in the waste and circular service category for the 2022 report. The report acknowledges the need to implement circular solutions in waste management in order to decrease climate impact.

“Our green bonds, with a total investment volume of 1.8 billion SEK, are dedicated to financing projects within Stena Metall Group that support the development of circular processes. The extraction and processing of virgin resources cause about 50 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. To succeed in reaching climate neutrality, making the transition from linear production models to a circular economy is a very important piece of the puzzle. It is our ambition at Stena Metall Group to be a driving force and a leader in this transition, together with our customers,” says Anna Sundell, Group Sustainability Manager at Stena Metall Group.

More information about Stena Metall Group’s green bonds.

From 1 October 2022, all new employees at Stena Recycling Denmark will be welcomed with a nature certificate instead of the traditional bouquet of flowers. The certificate is proof that 20 m2 of Danish nature is secured for the benefit of Danish biodiversity, which is under massive pressure. The value of the donation goes unabated to secure Danish forests and nature.

A SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVE

Jonas Sander, who just started as a Project Manager at the Sustainability Department, likes the initiative from his new employer.

“I think it’s a wonderful welcome gift that says a lot about Stena as a company. This Nature Certificate gives back to nature, rather than taking from nature, as the bouquet does,” Jonas says.

The new welcome ritual was initiated by the HR and Sustainability Department. Next year when Denmark gets its own sustainability report, the number of square meters of nature secured will be reported.

At the end of June, Stena Recycling Finland acquired Encore Environmental Services, a medium-sized Finnish recycling company. Stena Recycling has been operating in Finland for more than 20 years, the acquisition will double the Finnish operations and expand the range of services. Encore Environmental Services has a strong background in paper collection and recycling, having practically taught Finns how to recycle paper. Over the years, however, the business has expanded to include not only the collection of paper, but also a wide range of circular and recycling solutions for different waste fractions, data confidential services, pallets, and fuels for energy producers.

“Stena Recycling and Encore Environmental Services complement each other. Our aim is that the companies will operate as one in the future. Together, we have the potential for a unique recycling and waste management service in Finland, combining Stena’s strong expertise in metal recycling with Encore’s understanding of corporate waste management,” says Olli Kellokumpu, Managing Director of Stena Recycling Finland.

Even with the current figures for Stena Recycling and Encore Environmental Services, the combined company would be one of the largest players in the recycling and waste management sector in Finland. The companies currently have a combined turnover of almost EUR 200 million. The companies have a total of around 370 employees and currently 34 production units and a recycling network covering the whole of Finland.