Despite the present situation, our companies perform comparatively well. When Stena AB closed its books in September, earnings before tax amounted to SEK 1.8 billion. Stena Metall AB achieved their second-best year results ever, with SEK 1.34 billion in profit. By being afraid, we mobilized the courage and covered in principle all our costs for future interest payments by covering the interest rates for close to ten years.

When other companies with real estate activities now fight for their survival, Stena Fastigheter can continue to develop our projects. It is not only about building new premises. It is also about investing in less consumption of energy, water and other consumables. Investing in solar cells and AI management creates better cash flows and less environmental footprints. Also investing in social well-being is close to our beliefs in the purpose of our group of companies. We are grateful we have the resources to continue doing so.

With most of our markets in principle in decline or with lower margins, we are back to shaving costs more relentlessly. Luckily we have a culture used to that and I am sure we shall once again find the avenues to improve our competitive position. Nevertheless, it requires attention and an unsentimental attitude to our activities but not to each other. By continuously investing in our personal capabilities our employees have in principle no difficulties in finding alternative employment. We prefer of course that our people stay with us continuing to improve their skills and our company.

BUSINESS AREA UPDATE

Stena Line is noticing a softer freight market, but Its travel market has performed in line with expectations during the very important summer high season. Passengers and car volumes are in line with budget and rates are holding up nicely. We can conclude that despite inflation and increasing interest rates, people are spending an increasing part of their disposable income on travel and not only on tickets but also onboard our ships. Looking ahead, we are cautiously optimistic but are aware that a slowdown in the general economy may eventually impact our travel segment.

A major challenge in the Stena Line budget for 2024, is the introduction of EU’s emission trading system (ETS). The system will be phased in during a three-year period with 40% applied in 2024, 70% in 2025 and then 100% in 2026. Besides continuously keeping cutting our energy consumption our objective is to pass on of the increased cost to our customers, but we do not know how successful this will be.

STENA ADACTUM COMPANIES, STENA BULK AND STENA DRILLING

It seems like inflation is under control. Our diversified business model has proved resilient to yet another obstacle. The business is developing well in general, but Stena Adactum is losing some momentum. On the other hand, Stena Bulk performs at all-time-high levels and Stena Drilling continues to improve meaningfully. Northern Marine’s management skills and supervision services are appreciated and we are gaining new profitable management contracts. Northern Marine’s trading skills in marine equipment are not enough though and we are reducing the size of these activities.

The Stena AB budget for next year is, as always uncertain, but with an increasing share of cash flows linked to fixed contracts and a fully recovered offshore drilling market, it looks promising.

A new drillship the Stena Evolution will join our fleet in February next year. This is the world’s most modern drillship and has a profitable long-term contract with Shell. Its operation will be development drilling in the extreme depths of the US Gulf.

It is not so well known that sadly the consumption of oil is still increasing. Offshore production is the most environ-mentally friendly way of oil production.

Scandinavian Renewable (SR Energy), started by Stena Adactum, is now the largest windmill company in Sweden. Stena Adactum keeps its share of 20%. It is regretful that the disadvantages of windmill production will limit its potential for completely solving our need for stable electricity production. Nevertheless, the company keeps on expanding and will defend its position as the largest producer of electricity by wind in Sweden.

On another note, Stena Adactum finally managed to acquire the Austrian kitchen manufacturer Dan Küchen as a bolt-on acquisition in Ballingslöv. Despite present near-term demand difficulties long-term outlook is favourable and the company will strategically fit very well into Ballingslöv.

For Stena Metall the first two months started up surprisingly well bearing all uncertainties around us. Most of the companies performed rather well even though there is always room for improvements.

Within Stena Recycling we have managed to maintain the volumes, but we saw some signs in early November that volumes may drop somewhat. Almost all our established companies contribute with positive results. In Finland, there is a high focus on our new acquisition to implement and establish our operative model based on delegated business acumen. Stena Recycling Sweden has started a notice of termination for around 100 people.

Stena Aluminium has good volumes, but heavy pressures prevail on the margins. Hopefully, the margins will come back in January.

In order to make our market presence significant enough, we have signed an agreement with Repono to sell 100 percent of the shares in BatteryLoop. Repono is a newly established company supporting the energy transition to reach the environmental targets in Europe toward net zero by owning and operating large-scale battery storage.
The immense fluctuations in the production of windmill and solar electricity make electricity storage a critical condition for the effective distribution of electricity. We are going to keep a substantial shareholding in Repono.

AN INTERESTING CONCLUSION

Coming back from an interesting holiday in Egypt I have visited the world’s first large building project the pyramids. By planning and working together it is amazing how such big-scale projects could successfully be accomplished. Each pyramid, it is estimated, was also accomplished in a relatively short time span. Some estimate the production time to be less than thirty years.

I also studied the influence of Hellenism in Egypt. Hellenism is built on a different aspect namely intense curiosity and energy paired with flexibility to create new productive thoughts and concepts have led to big steps forward for mankind.

Thinking of our Stena Culture I feel a lot of pride in registering the high energy level among all of us plus the curiosity to develop the company and ourselves.

We have a lot to be grateful for and a lot of means to achieve a prosperous future together.

Wishing you all a fruitful December and a Happy New Year.

With many thanks.

Dan Sten Olsson, CEO

Göteborg November 2023

It seems as if it was yesterday that I wrote the text for SfärNytt Christmas edition 2022. With children who have grown up and are moving away from home, our house is getting emptier and emptier. The days are no longer filled with their activities, laughter and worries. Here, it is important to acquire a hobby that can enrich you alongside work.

Winter has come to us in Sweden and I, who love sun and warmth, am now cold. It is beautiful though to look out the window and watch the white landscape, also that I know all of you do not have that view depending on where in the world that you live. So, flip through these pages and savor the essence of Christmas and see what is cooking in the Stena Business Areas.

From our festive family to yours, may this season be filled with love, laughter, and magic. May your holiday be cherished of memories and celebration.

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

Linda Mickelson

At a time when both individuals and companies are affected by inflation, energy prices, organized crime and a troubled world, Stena Fastigheter is strengthening its work with social sustainability. With targeted initiatives focusing on education for children and youths, vacation jobs and meaningful extracurricular activities, opportunities are being broadened for students successfully completing their studies and getting that all-important first line on resumes.

“By hiring more relationship managers, we’re strengthening our strategic work with social sustainability, while creating practical opportunities for new and more activities that reach even more young people,” says Cecilia Fasth, CEO of Stena Fastigheter.

“Additionally, we can deepen the valuable collaborative activities we already have to contribute to positive development in the neighborhoods.”

Stena Fastigheter has been working with social sustainability for over 20 years through its relationship management approach. Social sustainability work is based on the UN’s global sustainability goals and has been broken down into four focus areas: security, work, school and leisure. In concrete terms, this can involve everything from improving the physical living environment to creating enjoy-able or developing activities in the neighborhoods, as well as work to strengthen young people’s opportunities in the labor market.

FORGING NEW AND STRONG TIES WITH OTHER ENTITIES

“When we invest in a neighborhood, it makes a difference, as for example in Tynnered in Gothenburg where ten years of work has contributed to the area no longer being classified as particularly vulnerable by the police,” says Cecilia Fasth. “Through our relationship management, we’re contributing to positive development both for the people living in our apartments and for the city as a whole.”

At Stena Line we are on a journey towards our vision ‘Connecting Europe for a sustainable future’. We have set out to be the leader in sustainable shipping. To reach that goal we need to adapt and find new ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Modern technology can support us on this journey.

Using artificial intelligence is one of the ways we can utilise data to make improvements to our operations. Since a couple of years back Stena Line and the Fleet Operations Digital team are working more with digital tools as support to minimise the energy consumption in the daily ferry operation.

SAVING FUEL WITH THE VOYAGE OPTIMISATION TOOL

Stena Voyage Optimisation software is one of the tools that can help us save CO2 and fuel. When preparing a voyage, the tool suggests the number of engines we need to use and looks at the forecasted weather along the route. During voyage it calculates the optimal speed and takes a large set of factors into consideration such as wind, waves and depth along the route while at the same time always arriving on time.

“We conducted an extensive evaluation to measure how much fuel we save using the voyage optimisation. It was done during a whole year with several ships collecting many thousands of trips. We saw that we could save up to 5 percent fuel even though the conditions vary from ship to ship,” says Emma Aronsson, Lead Developer at Stena Line.

TRIM OPTIMISATION

The platform also opens up for additional ways of saving CO₂ and energy. One such way is to pursue the work to create recommendations for optimal trim and engines.

The trim of a vessel refers to the difference in water depth between the forward and aft draught either by the bow (front) or the stern (back). This difference affects how much fuel the ship consumes during its journey, with potential variations of up to 8% from the least to the most efficient trim. In the future, the system will recommend the optimal trim for each departure given the current planned load and trim window.

All our ships are equipped with ballast water systems, which transfer water between tanks on the vessel to achieve the right trim and stability. If we instead could load our ships with cargo and vehicles to achieve this, we would achieve the desired trim, resulting in greater fuel efficiency.

INTRODUCING ELECTRONIC LOGBOOKS

To reduce the amount of garbage is a constant focus onboard the ship. With Stena Line’s new electronic logbooks it is possible to track the amount waste produced onboard in a more automated way so that our sustainability team can see the impact of different initiatives. This is one of the functionalities that is being worked on while at the same time rolling out the logbooks in the fleet. 

“We have been working closely with the Fleet Operations Digital team to create a good solution for taking our required paper-based logbooks into the digital world. This will be one tool to help us reduce our carbon footprint,” says Peter Holm, Senior Chief Engineer at Stena Line.

FINDING NEW WAYS TO REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

There is potential to improve the system by automating data input and adding more functionality. This can be achieved by seeing the system as a part of a digital landscape onboard our ships rather than an isolated island. To get the most value from it, different systems need to communicate with each another.

Our environment is constantly changing, and we need to evolve along with it. Our plan is to implement the voyage optimisation across our entire fleet to have the greatest possible impact.

We continually work with our skilled crew and digital experts to find new ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

Stena’s Sustainability Month featured a rich program of activities. With the lectures, participants could learn more about human rights, strategic decision-making on sustainability issues and how to protect marine wildlife from maritime disturbances, to mention a few examples. Stena Line arranged a study visit on the Stena Germanica, which can run on both methanol and conventional fuel; Stena Fastigheter showed how social sustainability works in one of its residential neighborhoods; and Envac arranged a study visit to one of its facilities with automated waste management. Practical exercises such as in CPR, group urban running, yoga and sustainability bingo were also held. 

The idea of arranging a Sustainability Month came about when four colleagues working with sustainability in different Stena companies met over dinner.

“We realized that we could gain a lot by making a joint effort for increased sustainability and sharing good examples with each other,” says Maria Tornvall, Group Head of Sustainability, Stena Line. “So we went to our CEOs and asked if we could do this. We then presented the idea to a group of fifteen sustainability managers at Stena AB who meet a couple of times each year, and it didn’t take long for several to get on board.”

What she is most pleased with is the positive energy and commitment that has been created, and the fact that it has been possible to achieve such high quality with so little money.

“We’ve had almost no external costs at all,” she says. “Everything is based on the commitment of all involved and our contacts in the field of sustainability. We’ve also had tremendous help from Stena IT, who helped us record everything.”

Frida Torstensson, Sustainability Manager for Stena AB, says this is the first time the group has undertaken such a joint initiative based entirely on collaboration.

“Each company has decided which program points they want to include and this has produced a very good spread,” she points out. “Much of what has come up during the month are things that are already being carried out in the various companies, but by concentrating it like this, it carries a lot more weight and reaches a wider audience.”

Something new that came out of Sustainability Month is that a platform has been launched for environmental issues with a focus on shipping – the Environmental Hub.

“All companies can access and contribute knowledge, share news and write articles,” says Frida Torstensson. “In this way, we can easily access data and scientific studies without having to look up everything ourselves. A concrete example of this is a series of articles from several perspectives by Stena Teknik on the electrification of vehicles, such as how sustainable the production of batteries is and what the use of batteries means for fire safety on board.”

Most of the activities have been concentrated in Gothenburg, but not all.

“One example is the Northern Marine Group, which has had activities in both Glasgow and Singapore,” says Frida Torstensson. “At one of the companies in Singapore, staff went to a local organic farm and learned how to grow vegetables at home in micro format. They then had a lunch box day, where all employees received reusable lunch boxes to reduce waste.”

One of the common program points developed by Stena AB was a general sustainability course in eight parts in the form of a nano training.

“The course takes up what sustainability is and why it’s a universal topic, how we work with it at Stena and why it’s important to do so – not only to be a good citizen in the global community, but also for risk minimization and to maintain relevance in the future,” says Frida Torstensson.

The companies participating in the initiative are Stena AB, Stena Line, Stena Fastigheter, Stena Group IT, Stena Teknik, Stena Rederi HR, Northern Marine Group, Ballingslöv, Envac and Blomsterlandet. In addition, Stena Metall holds its own sustainability week in December.

At most companies, the activities have been voluntary, but Stena Fastigheter chose to make some of the program points mandatory for certain key personnel.

“Work with sustainability is a way of securing the future of our business, and to move forward we need to have a common ground, use the same concepts and reflect on things together,” says Anna Haraldsson Jensen, Sustainability Manager at Stena Fastigheter. “A sustainability month makes this clear and accessible. It kindles curiosity naturally, about the issues and our activities, how to get things done, why and what can be improved. It’s both fun and important, and becomes more a form of everyday togetherness that way. The questions are complicated and we don’t have all the answers, so our own culture relating to how we work is very important.”

She also sees a major advantage in all Stena companies having a common ground and using the same concepts and definitions.

“It’s very good on so many levels to learn about what others are doing and to attend lectures and workshops, to think and reflect together,” she says. “Being able to talk about what is difficult and to join together and celebrate when things go well demonstrates our strong culture at Stena.”

It is hoped that Sustainability Month will become a recurring event and arranged again next year.

“The reception has been extremely positive,” says Maria Tornvall. “We’re now looking at how those who work at sea or who work nights could be given better opportunities to participate so that even more people can take part in all the activities.”

ANDERS WALLIN, GROUP COMPLIANCE MANAGER, STENA AB AND HELENA ÖFVERSTRÖM, LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT LEAD, STENA LINE, PARTICIPATED IN THE ACTIVITES

“I was impressed by the breadth and depth of Sustainability Month’s insight,” says Anders Wallin. “Discussing this topic and putting it high on our meeting agendas is of the utmost importance in constantly expanding our knowledge and together making a difference for our environment. During the month, we saw how crucial it is to be aware of how everything we do affects our environment, either in a positive or negative way, and that what we choose to do really matters.”

“I participated in a lecture conducted by human rights lawyer Parul Sharma. Her lecture made it clear that there is much we can and should do to help improve the working environment and conditions of vulnerable families and children around the world,” says Anders.“It’s a reminder of our ability to influence and contribute to change for the better.”

“The world right now is heavily burdened by problems and it’s easy to be overwhelmed by it in all. So it’s great to see that there are so many opportunities where we can help make both the world and our company better,” says Helena Öfverström, who participated in a lecture on hidden disabilities.

Those who attended the ceremony included Senior Management from Stena Drilling, members from both the Stena AB board and Stena Drilling board, the Stena Evolution crew, and all those who have played an important part in the delivery of Stena Evolution.

This event highlighted the collaborative efforts required to bring such an advanced vessel to reality, factoring in the needs of our global energy market. This included a number of key upgrades focussed on delivering safe and efficient operations for our clients. The vessel’s naming ceremony was not just a milestone for Stena Drilling, being 11 years since the last naming ceremony, but a moment of pride for all those involved in design, construction, commissioning, and everything in between.

Godmother, Elizabet Brock, named the vessel and started the celebrations when she cut the rope with a ceremonial axe, champagne was smashed against the ship, and the name was unveiled on the side of the vessel, with streamers and fireworks marking the moment. 

Prior to the ceremony guests enjoyed a tour of the soon-to-be Stena Evolution where they marvelled at the technology and sheer size of the ship. During a lunch which took place after the naming ceremony Stena Drilling’s CEO Erik Rønsberg presented a ’Skean dubh’ (a small, single-edged knife) to Samsung Heavy Industries. A nod to Stena Drilling’s Scottish heritage and location.   

The naming of Stena Evolution by Stena Drilling is more than just a label for a new rig; it is a testament to Stena Drilling’s values, goals, and vision for the future of offshore
drilling. Stena Evolution is the next evolution of Stena Drilling’s fleet.

STENA EVOLUTION

The Drilling Unit is a 7th Generation operation-oriented enhanced Ultra Deep Water DP3 Drillship capable of operating in water depths up to 12,000 ft and drilling depths up to 40,000 ft. The Drilling Unit’s premium high specification and optimal design utilises riser storage in hull to offer extensive deck space with a 24,000 MT VDL. Innovative energy and operational efficiencies have been implemented throughout the design to enhance performance. In addition, this vessel is a prime candidate for upgrading for 20,000 psi well operations.

Northern Marine will use one vessel under its management for the All Aboard Alliance’s Diversity@Sea pilot to test a variety of real-life measures to improve working conditions for seafarers.

Participating companies have committed to meeting a series of minimum requirements onboard one pilot vessel within their fleet.

These include having a minimum of four women onboard (a high number in an industry with less than 2 percent women), providing appropriate conditions for menstrual needs, providing 24/7 Wi-Fi for crew members, and ensuring that all seaborne staff have access to inclusive personal protective equipment.

In Northern Marine, planning is ongoing to confirm the selected vessel, with their participation in the offshore pilot initiative scheduled to begin in April 2024.

The pilot will explore different approaches to improving work-life balance for everyone at sea and will implement ambitious protocols for ensuring a work environment free from bullying, abuse and harassment.

Thomas Campbell, General Manager, Clyde Marine Training (Northern Marine Group), is project managing Northern Marine’s part in the pilot and is a member of the Diversity@Sea Committee.

He said: “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a key objective at Northern Marine, and we are very proud to be part of the All Aboard Alliance and the Diversity@Sea pilot.”

“We are one of 11 shipping companies who are entering vessels into this pilot to ultimately increase the number of female seafarers in global shipping and our own managed Fleet over the coming years.”

In the first part of the Diversity@Sea project, 115 interviews with seafarers helped identify ’15 Key Pain Points for Women at Sea’, which were published earlier this year.

Following this, leaders, seafarers, and experts from the involved companies worked together to codesign 40 concrete measures to address these pain points.

Thomas added: “The project seeks to test the measures and give us valuable insight into what constitutes an attractive and inclusive career at sea, allowing us to drive the necessary changes.”

“The launch evidences our collective dedication to create transformative change and ensure respect, dignity, and inclusivity are cornerstones throughout the entire industry.”

To track the progress of the participating companies towards the stated goals of the pilot, the Global Maritime Forum will gather and assess data from crew members onboard the pilot vessels in partnership with independent maritime data analysis firm PsyFyi.

Comparative analysis with non-participating vessels will offer insights into the effectiveness of these measures.⁄

WHAT DO YOU FIND INTERESTING ABOUT WORKING IN SHIPPING TODAY?

The interaction with operators and owners and how we can support them in achieving their goals in what is a fluctuating and dynamic market environment. The collaboration is much more fluent than it was at the beginning of my career in ship management as clients today are far more receptive to innovative new ideas.

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT FOCUS AREAS IN TANKER SHIP MANAGEMENT?

Safety of our people and sustainability are top priorities. In terms of sustainability, in ship operations vessel energy management and fuel types are significant focus areas. At Northern Marine we are constantly exploring, analysing, and implementing new solutions that will facilitate more sustainable operations and help ensure optimum commercial success for the client.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY CURRENTLY DOING WELL?

This industry is a very innovative environment with a collective strong ambition to discover new solutions. While of course the industry can always do better, the team here at Northern Marine are very proud that we in Stena are at the forefront of this industry innovation. Working in ship management for Northern Marine for 21 years, I can also say with certainty that ship operations are as safe as they have ever been.

The day began with lunch at Stena’s headquarters in Gothenburg. Petter Larsson, Risk & Security at Great IT, spoke on the theme “How an industrial spy thinks when it comes to you being a secretary for the CEO”.

Petter, who has served with the Swedish Armed Forces and SÄPO, gave an engaging lecture on security, espionage and the human aspects. His words gave the participants a lot to think about, and the spontaneous response by one was: “It was an incredibly exciting lecture, and I could have listened for hours.”

It was then time to focus on team building. After the bus ride out to Gullmarstrands Havshotell in Fiskebäckskil, we went for a quick walk. The weather was at its worst with rain and wind, and subsequent team activities were more difficult to carry out than planned.

“Getting the chance to work together on tricky tasks in small groups and in a casual setting is a fun way of getting to know each other,” says Jeanette Johansson. “Besides learning new things, getting to know each other is an important part of our networking events so that we can help one another in our day-to-day duties. There were some new faces in the group this time, so it was especially important to welcome them into the family.”

The evening ended with a dip in the sea and a good dinner. 

The ceremony took place at the Port of New Orleans and marked another significant milestone for the methanol-fuelled joint venture fleet.

Dignitaries and guests from both Proman and Stena Bulk, alongside notable figures from the US Gulf Coast’s maritime industries, assembled to celebrate the methanol tanker. The naming ceremony was the first for a methanol-fuelled tanker in the Port of New Orleans, and in the wider US Gulf Coast region.

Speaking on the naming ceremony, David Cassidy, Chief Executive of Proman, said: “Stena Pro Marine has already proven to be a significant addition to our fleet since its delivery in the middle of last year. Given the region’s importance to global energy supplies, we are thrilled to name this vessel in New Orleans, and this event provides us with a wonderful opportunity to gather with partners, friends, and industry leaders and reaffirm our commitment to supporting and enabling a sustainable shipping industry.”

Erik Hånell, President and CEO of Stena Bulk, added: “The naming ceremony for Stena Pro Marine comes as yet another marker on our shared journey with Proman to prove the viability of methanol as a marine fuel. By gathering in New Orleans, a key hub on the US Gulf Coast, we show to US and global shipping that methanol is technically feasible as a marine fuel today. We look forward to furthering our collective vision for methanol within the maritime industry.”

The ceremony concluded with a customary champagne christening, during which Mrs. Katarina Hånell was honoured as the vessel’s godmother.

STENA PRO MARINE

• MR Tanker, 49,990 DWT
• Dual-fuel. Consumes 12,500 tonnes methanol annually
• Constructed at Guangzhou Shipyard International Co Ltd. (GSI) in China
• Delivered in mid-2022

WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU GET TO WORK?

I make a round to check the recycling bins and sort mail both internally and
externally, and packages sometimes arrive in the morning too. Then I help with milk delivery to Stena Line’s finance department and pick up and drop off the mail to be taken aboard at Frontline. At nine, I pack my car and deliver mail to the other Stena offices in Gothenburg.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO IN THE MORNING?

I help deliver important bank documents to Handelsbanken and sometimes even make deliveries to the notary public. If any coworker in the building needs help with something I always try to lend a hand.

WHAT DO YOU DO THE REST OF YOUR WORKING DAY?

My duties in the afternoon vary. There might be courier deliveries and I also take care of our car, the car from the pool, or our loaner bikes. Me and my colleague Therese help send packages with TNT and I sometimes help with courier service for the various trade fairs that Stena participates in. At half past two, we usually have a joint coffee break in the department.

DO YOU NEED A CAR OR BIKE DURING YOUR WORKING DAY?

During the winter months, mail and parcels are delivered mostly by car. In the spring and summer, however, I usually bike with the smaller packages.

WE HEARD THAT YOU WERE IN A PROJECT CALLED “BIKE WITH AN ELECTRIC BIKE”. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE PROJECT.

We got to borrow an electric bike for a period, and I was able to ride from home to work in 30 minutes. With a regular bike, it takes between 40 and 50 minutes. Unfortunately, I had to borrow the bike during the autumn/winter which was not exactly optimal. Weather permitting, I like to bike to and from work.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST WITH YOUR JOB AND YOUR WORKING DAY?

The part I like best is talking to all the colleagues I meet when delivering mail and packages. When it comes to parcel deliveries, I always take photos and send messages, via Teams or email. This verifies that the packages have been delivered.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

In my spare time I meet friends, play computer games, ride my bike and take pictures. I like attending various events and going on cruises with both Stena and other shipping companies.

Paulina initially received help with conducting training from a nurse at the Danish terminal, but later decided to become an instructor herself. Paulina has now been holding in-house CPR courses since 2011.

AFTER THE FIRST TEN MINUTES, FEW SURVIVE

Starting CPR early increases the chance of survival by two to three times compared to doing nothing while waiting for an ambulance. To increase the victim’s chances of survival, CPR must be started within minutes. Using a defibrillator within three minutes increases the chance of survival by 70 percent.

“My goal is to train as many people as possible here at Stena,” says Paulina. “We have a large workplace, frequently hosting customers, guests and suppliers. Those attending the course are new employees who have never had our CPR training, but we also have those who just need a refresher session. Since you never know how you’ll react in this kind of situation, it’s important to get in multiple training sessions. Only then will you feel confident that you can perform proper CPR. It should also be noted that in the event of an incident, the most important thing is to do something. Everyone can do something!”

EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING!

CPR training is held on the last Wednesday of each month at Stena’s headquarters in Gothenburg. Sign up using the QR code posted beside all evacuation plans or contact Paulina Runnestad.

Don’t forget to practice your skills! The more times you’ve practiced performing CPR and using a defibrillator, the more likely you are to save a life in a stressful situation.

The biofuel that was supplied is a so-called B25, which consists of 25 percent RME (rapeseed methyl ester) and 75 percent Marine Gasoil.

For Stena Oil’s customers it is important to have access to a wide range of different fuel alternatives.

“As sustainability becomes more and more important for many shipping companies, and as various regulations for emissions from shipping are tightened over time, the range of different types of alternatives to conventional bunker fuels becomes increasingly important. When it comes to biofuels, we believe in a gradual increase in demand as initiatives and policies such as CII and EU ETS are coming into play,” says Jonas Persson, MD at Stena Oil.

Using the biofuel in question reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the ship by about 20 percent, compared with conventional fuel.

For Dalaro Shipping, working with sustainability is an important part of the business.

“Dalaro is, together with our head owner Oslo Bulk, very focused on reducing our GHG emissions. The usage of biofuel and other types of alternatives to conventional bunker fuels heralds a crucial step toward a sustainable maritime future where vessels can navigate with a much lower carbon footprint. Conducting this Biofuel trial is one of several important steps Dalaro is taking to prepare our vessels for the future,” says Nils Östman, Head of Operations at Dalaro Shipping. 

Stena Metall’s Annual Review & Sustainability Report used to be a printed product, but it has now been transformed into a landscape navigable digital format. The same goes for the Annual Report 2022/2023. In addition to creating a modern reading experience, there are several benefits of improving and expanding the digital usability by using this new format, which also includes
many new content formats and features.

”After years of producing a solid printed product it was time to do something new. Our focus has been on creating a more sustainable and digital report that can integrate with, and thereby drive
traffic to, the new websites of various Stena Metall companies,” says Caroline Borgvall, Project Manager of the Annual Review & Sustainability Report.

To get an overview of the business of Stena Metall and its strategic sustainability work, please read the latest Annual Review & Sustainability Report.

“Stena Teknik is one of Stena’s crown jewels. We may have been a bit humble over the years, but now we are ready to step out in the lime-light. We intend to be more proactive in our role as technical experts. Our innovation heritage is an outstanding foundation for gaining momentum in Stena’s journey towards the future,” Ron says.

Over its 60 years, the combined brainpower of Stena Teknik has been involved in almost one hundred Stena newbuilds, covering 12 different vessel types: RoPax, RoRo, HSS catamarans, drilling rigs, drill ships, platform support, diving support, well stimulation, bunker tankers, crude oil tankers, product tankers, and chemical tankers.

“We are probably unique in the marine world. It’s hard to imagine that any other shipping company has all that knowledge inhouse. They have to buy parts, or all of it, from external companies. This means that they don’t have the future in their own hands, as we do,” Ron says.

Ron Gerlach took over as Technical Director when Harry Robertsson retired two years ago. However, the German national is definitely no rookie in the Stena organisation. Since joining Stena in 2003 he has held key positions within Northern Marine and Stena Line, where Ron was Trade Director, Germany before taking up his present position.

“I am very grateful to Stena for getting opportunities to experience many different parts of the company. Over the years, I have worked with newbuilds, technical management and commercial operations. The scopes have included different ship types and spending many years at shipyards in South Korea and China.”

With that brief look in the rearview mirror, we will shift focus to what lies ahead of Stena Teknik.

“We will become progressive and less receptive. Aligning with global requirements and becoming a stronger force in society require agility, and that will affect how we work going forward,” Ron explains and continues:

“Everybody is talking about decarbonizing nowadays. We have been working with energy efficiency for decades, so we have got what it takes to be a driving force in those discussions and developments. So we must be out there and advocate what we do, and what we aim to achieve in the future.”

The external ambitions include joining international partnerships and bringing views and ideas forward in technical summits. In addition, becoming a more proactive organisation also applies to the way Stena Teknik acts internally. How does Ron want to position his organisation in the Stena society?

“We will be the networking hub for technology within the company. A platform for leveraging strengths, exchanging knowledge and facilitating initiatives. This doesn’t only include ships. Solutions that work in ships can be useful in other areas as well,” Ron says.

“There are experts on key innovation areas in most parts of the company, but If they don’t talk to each other, there is a risk that the best ideas don’t reach all corners of the organisation. Stena will become much stronger if work we appear as one aligned team, accumulating all our strengths. We want to become the hub for achieving that,” he continues.

Regular Tech Talks have been a platform for enabling Stena Teknik’s experts to show colleagues what they are capable of and recently the team has also moved into a new, purposeful office at the headquarters on Masthuggskajen in Gothenburg.

The space is designed to promote teamwork – and Ron has created a leadership team with experts in newbuilds, projects and procurement as well as sustainability, energy, data and analysis. Traditional focus areas blended with subjects that are key to future success.

“Most of us, including myself, at Stena Teknik are Naval Architects. Over the past two years, we have employed quite a number of young talents with different backgrounds, for example science and environmental law, which really creates a more diverse and international team,” Ron says and concludes with a smile:

“People from other parts of the company are always welcome. Bring your ideas and pop into our office for a coffee and a chat. Or why don’t you stay a while longer and spend part of your professional career with us? I promise that it will be very exciting.”

THE ENERGY TRANSITION IS HERE

The world is transitioning to a cleaner future. Yes, oil majors have recently dropped climate commitments, yes the UK has given a go-ahead for one of its biggest oil and gas projects in years, yes temperature records have been broken also this summer extending into fall. Yet, there is a massive movement towards a clean energy future that trumps the fossils. According to IEA, 1.7 out of the 2.8 trillion USD in energy investment in 2023 will go to clean tech. China is a major driver, where the other big players are the US, EU, and Japan. Regulatory bodies are pushing industry forward, EU with the FitFor55 package and targets for renewable energy, and IMO with its net-zero updated greenhouse gas strategy, to mention a few. The transition is here, and not following suit will soon turn out to be too costly.

Last year, Stena Teknik reorganised and created a new section in Sustainability & Energy, focusing on the energy transition fully anchored in science and data. This includes deciphering the regu-latory environment, in particular the liquid green fuels, updates in the market on biobased fuels, strategic planning tools to enable a data-informed decision making and driving projects enabling a cheaper transition for the shipping business units. An important part of the work is spreading awareness in the energy transition by tapping into the knowledge in-house and doing that through collaborative
groups and the recently launched Environmental Hub. As part of this, Stena Teknik has created a series of shorter articles on the energy transition to improve awareness in the field. The opening two articles are centered around electric vehicles, where the first one approaches the sustainability aspect, and the second one centers around safety aspects.

READ THE ARTICLES!

Part I

Part II

The ship is optimized in terms of speed, fuel consumption and cargo, and is suitable for the conditions of the route with limited draught in the ports. The Stena Forwarder replaces the Stena Foreteller on the route and the crew is the same as on the previous ship.

The Stena Forwarder is slightly smaller than the E-Flexer vessels Stena Embla and Stena Edda, which operate on the same route.

VERY GOOD FLEXIBILITY

The ship is distinguished by its spacious cargo capacity on all cargo decks and the capability for high loads on the main deck. This provides considerable flexibility, enabling the ship to operate in several different markets with its easily accessible decks and good fuel efficiency. In addition, the two cranes on the top decks allow flexible load handling on the weather decks.

“Offering the market a vessel with high flexibility and good cargo capacity that also performs well when it comes to today’s and tomorrow’s regulatory requirements, is fully in line with Stena RoRo’s sustainability philosophy and our motto Stenability,” comments Niklas Andersson, General Manager, Technical & Commercial Operations, Stena RoRo.

“The Stena Forwarder is a particularly energy-efficient vessel that in addition to lower fuel costs relative to the vast majority of other roro vessels, also entails significantly lower CO₂ emissions,” says Per Westling, CEO for Stena RoRo. “This investment is part of the renewal of our roro and ropax fleet with not only new builds but also with some of the best of the existing vessels.”

The Stena Forwarder was built in 2016 at the Cantieri Navale Visentini shipyard in Italy.

STENA FORWARDER

• Length: 179 m
• Width: 26 m
• Draught: 6,1 m
• Lanemeter: 2,546 m
• DWT: 11,000