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Dan Sten Olsson - March 2022

PROGRESS IS GOOD

Celebrating one's birthday is fantastic. Thank you all for your nice gestures and notes of appreciation on my birthday the 3rd of February. Everybody loves to be recognized and I am not an exception. Especially now, when it is so important to keep on being alert and agile.

We have been through two very special years. 2020 was annus horribilis for Stena AB, but for Stena Metall it has been their best year ever. Our success differs for our various activities. That is why we want to be parts of a conglomerate. To learn from each other is very meaningful. We all try to run lean operations with the objective to be very close to our customers and do so with various degrees of success. We are all developing and managing closeness to our clients. That we could reduce our costs so remarkably is surprising though. Congratulations and thanks to everyone showing that when it comes to survival we can all do things in more simple and direct ways. Let us keep up our new ways of doing things in better ways. Our clients will thank us for that and we can continue to invest in our businesses.

Our mantra is, always fear losses and love profits. This attitude has made our remarkable recovery possible. We have learnt the importance of acting decisively in times of big change, the importance of looking at problems from different perspectives and the importance of balancing short term and long term perspectives. The recovery we have been able to do has come through hard work, strong customer focus and difficult decisions and actions. I would like to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to this recovery. Well done! 

It is in tough times that companies are stress tested. We have during the last two years proven that Stena is resilient, that we can adapt and that we are able to collaborate in difficult times. I am proud of the way we support each other, learn from each other and together act on both opportunities and challenges. Through good collaboration with our customers and internally we have proven that we have the strengths and capabilities to ride out a storm. 

I WOULD NOW LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT OUR DIFFERENT BUSINESS AREAS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

• Stena Line has done a remarkable recovery during 2021. The company is benefitting from a strong freight market and we see that our travel guests especially those in cars come back as soon as restrictions are lifted. We have been able to maintain the strict cost control also when the volumes are increasing which has led to the company back to profit delivering a really strong result in 2021.  

• Stena Fastigheter is delivering very healthy results and have several interesting development projects going on. Fortunately we have slots for new projects to develop available for another five years.

• The tanker market has been very challenging during 2021 and Stena Bulk is struggling in this market. Despite the company’s ability to proactively develop good customer solutions, 2021 has been the worst year ever from a profitability perspective. 

• The ship management business within Northern Marine Group is developing well and we have during 2021 signed several new prestigious contracts with energy majors and shipping companies. These contracts proves our ability to provide safe and efficient ship management services and builds our operational capabilities.  

• Stena RoRo’s E-flexer program has been a great success. During 2021 we have taken delivery of two new E-flexers designated for DFDS and Brittany Ferries and these vessels will through long term contracts contribute to stable cash-flow streams for Stena AB. 

• Stena Drilling has also recovered well during 2021 and the fact that all rigs currently have firm contracts with well-known energy majors shows that our high operational standards and well maintained riggs pays off. 

• The Stena Logistics companies have benefited from strong market development and are showing good revenue growth and profits. 

• Finally Stena Adactum has delivered good results during last year and are together with Stena Fastigheter generating stable cash-flows and results stabilizing the group. Ballingslöv and Blomsterlandet have seen large increases in revenues and profits as people have invested in their homes and gardens during the pandemic. 

• Stena Recycling has due to its success in teaming up with their customers, the strict rules for waste handling and high prices for raw materials created their best result ever. Not only that, we take market shares everywhere and make profit in every country, where we operate.

• Stena Trade and Industry activities make reasonable profits though our value added propositions need to be further developed. 

• To conclude I would say that we have during 2021 proved that our business models for Stena AB and Stena Metall works also during difficult times.

During these two years of crises we have continued to invest in our future even though we have reduced our cost levels significantly. It is difficult to continue to invest in development in times, when you are struggling to survive. It is absolutely necessary to continue doing so because otherwise we might survive short term, but realize we have nothing to live from nor for later. I am very proud that we have been able to balance the short term and the long term perspective. By doing so I am convinced that we have secured  both something to live from and for going forward on in the future. By being ready, we shall have a place and role to play also in the future. 

I think that 2022 has the potential of becoming a good year for us. By continue using the knowledge and capabilities we have developed to create new businesses, be innovative, take care of our customers and each other I am sure that we will continue seeing great performance as a result of our hard work. 

One important question I have learnt to consider during the last year is – who would miss us if we were not here? 

Thinking about that question creates valuable inputs to solve:

– How do we create value for society and for our customers?
– How useful are our activities and for whom?                               . 

– I think we should all ask us the question, who would miss us, if we ceased to exist, in order to be able to find solutions and opportunities, where we are useful. 

To our great surprise Stena AB turned 2021 into a profitable year and the combined profit for our three sphere companies namely Stena Metall, Stena AB and Stena Sessan AB  amounts to around SEK 3 billion. 

So, as we are not shy, let us take on 2022 with a lot of energy. Together we have proven that we can manage almost anything! Let us now keep on working together to accomplish more great things.

Dan Sten Olsson

Göteborg March 2022

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Do not take anything for granted and

TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER

Every third person in Sweden will receive a cancer diagnosis during their lifetime. This means that the vast majority of us somehow will suffer from cancer. Some will fall ill themselves, while others will be related to someone with the disease. One thing that most of us will have in common during our lifetime is that we will be unwilling victims of this disease, and that is why there is a lot to say about cancer.

Humans are good at taking things for granted, such as having food and a roof over your head, but it can also be other people. The average life expectancy in Sweden 2020 was 84.3 years for women and 80.6 years for men, but even if we would not be aware of the figures in detail, we know that people in Sweden generally live relatively long. This makes it natural that we do not go around worrying about a long-term illness, nor for a sudden death. Until we actually get hit.

A cancer diagnosis brings a lot of grief, worry and despair, and also a lot of learning. Nothing in life is guaranteed – not even our time on this planet. Everything you have taken for granted can be taken away, suddenly.

I had just turned 22 when I lost my father, only 56 years old. His illness and death gave me a completely new perspective on life. Things that had been important suddenly meant
nothing, and the time we had together became the most important thing.

Lina Asadi, Business Analyst, Stena Rederi AB

It is said that hope is the last thing that leaves us humans. Even though every third person in Sweden will suffer from cancer, two out of three who fall ill survive today, so do not lose hope.

There is a lot to say about cancer. Do not take anything for granted and take care of each other.

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A SOLUTION FOR REDUCING IMPACT ON CLIMATE

WOODEN BUILDINGS

An eight-floor building in wood is being built in Gothenburg. The construction and real estate industry accounts for just over 20 percent of Sweden's total greenhouse gas emissions. At Stena Property, several initiatives are underway to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and halve our climate footprint by 2030. In Askim in Gothenburg, we find Trägården, one of the company's foremost innovation projects for reducing emissions in new production.

In the Askim district, south of central Gothenburg, Stena Property is constructing five multi-family buildings, close to the sea and nature. The site adjoins Stena Property’s existing apartment buildings in the area. Here, the company is testing several different new methods so as to make a positive contribution to our climate. 

“All the buildings have wooden frames and facades,” says David Berkow, Department Manager at Stena Property. “The concrete for the foundation plates is green concrete, and the reinforcements are made of recycled steel. Two of the buildings are made up of modules where virtually the entire building, including finished kitchens and bathrooms, is constructed in the factory and then lifted in place on site. One of these buildings is eight floors high, which is unusual when it comes to modular wooden structures.” 

In working with Trägården, substantial focus is also being placed on energy supply. Solar cells are installed on the roofs and heating comes from an internal heating system. The newly constructed buildings are heated with return heat from Stena Property’s neighboring building in Pilegården. But what is the benefit of wooden structures from a climate perspective? 

“If we compare a building in Trägården with a typical building, and the starting value that is set as the baseline for new production, we’re lowering the footprint from 380 kg CO2e/sqm GFA to 122 kg CO2e/sqm GFA,” says Anna Haraldsson Jensen, Sustainability Developer at Stena Property. “We have a long-term goal of halving our climate footprint by 2030. To get there we need to be innovative, challenge ourselves and together with others. We need to change our processes to minimize the climate footprint of the materials and production. By doing this, we’ll have a property that will last for many years to come and with minimal climate impact.” 

Anna Haraldsson Jensen, Sustainability Developer, Stena Property. David Berkow, Department Manager, Stena Property.

CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENT

Stena Property aims to build 1,100 sustainable homes each year, and this year at least three wooden building projects will be started. In the projects, wood can be combined with other materials, to gain new knowledge, and see what produces the best effect. Stena Fastigheter wants to share their lessons learned. 

“Two of our construction projects, including Trägården, are part of a study being conducted by the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning,” says Anna Haraldsson Jensen. “The purpose of the study is to set new reference values for climate impact for new buildings. We want to be open and work actively so that both we and others can make wiser and better decisions early in the construction process.”

That there are challenges is quite clear, but with challenges also come new ideas.

“The construction and real estate industry has worked in the same ways for a long time, and has not been that prone to change, but we’re see more and more people wanting to create change,” says David Berkow. “Another challenge today is that wood is more expensive than concrete. In addition, knowledge is limited. In Trägården, for example, we have had to engage a wooden building expert in Umeå for help. We always need experts in moisture, fire, acoustics, but when we build in wood, there are few who are sufficiently knowledgeable in the area, so the availability of skills is another challenge.”

What is it like working with these challenges, and with a project like Trägården?

“We at Stena Property are driven by sustainability, but also that we find innovation exciting,” says David Berkow. “Here we get the opportunity to challenge ourselves. It’s positive both for the industry and the company, as well as for personal development.”

* GFA = Gross Floor Area for the entire structure, including exterior walls, basement, etc.

Trägården, south of Gothenburg, from above.

FACTS

• The frame and facade are made of wood, a renewable material with significantly less climate impact than, for example, brick. 

• The reinforcement components are made from recycled steel in collaboration with Stena Metall; the concrete used for the concrete slab is green concrete and the buildings will receive the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

• Trägården consists of five buildings, of which one is an eight-floor building, and the others have five floors. These are both condominiums and rental apartments.

• Stena Property will halve its climate footprint by 2030 with existing yield. All activities are included.

• Stena Property plans to build 1,100 sustainable homes annually.

TRÄGÅRDEN

SWEDISH NATIONAL BOARD OF HOUSING, BUILDING AND PLANNING

The government has commissioned the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning to promote reduced climate impact in public procurement of contracts for construction, civil engineering and real estate. 

A study from the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, which aims to set new reference values for climate impact for new buildings, includes 68 new production projects in Sweden, two of which are from Stena Fastigheter, Trägården and Stuveriet (an office building in
Gothenburg). 

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WHY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MATTERS

Stena Line is driving diversity and inclusion forward with its People Sustainability Roadmap at the top of the agenda.

To fully understand what we mean by diversity and inclusion, let’s first look at each term separately. Diversity is the existence of differences between our identities, experiences, and perspectives. Inclusion is all about celebrating these differences, looking at how they can help us to work productively, build positive relationships and learn from each other.

Why do we talk about diversity and inclusion together? We think that this quote sums it up nicely: “if diversity is the party, then inclusion is being invited to dance”.

There are obvious benefits to making people feel valued, included and treated fairly. However, when we look at history, people have repeatedly been discriminated against for all sorts of reasons, for instance their gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Today, these inequalities continue, which is why it is vital that companies like Stena Line work together to change the patterns created by historical barriers.  

With a shortage of skilled labour within the shipping industry there is currently fierce competition for talent. Therefore, now more than ever it is vitally vital important that companies like Stena Line provide an attractive place for ALL young seafarers to work and develop successful careers.

In order to succeed in growing a more diverse culture we hope to recruit more women, and promote them to senior positions. Gender equality is one of our focus areas within our People Sustainability Roadmap, which outlines that 30% of all managers, on all levels of the Company, will be women by the end of 2022. 

In a sector where only 2% of the 1.2 million seafarers worldwide are women this is an ambitious target that lays down a challenge for other companies to try to emulate.

A GREAT EXAMPLE OF STENA LINE’S DIVERSITY EFFORTS CAN BE SEEN ON THE IRISH SEA, WHERE ONE OF COMPANY’S LARGEST VESSEL’S, THE STENA ADVENTURER, HAS AN ALL-FEMALE BRIDGE CREW. THE TEAM IS LED BY MASTER LYNETTE BRYSON.

We are very proud to announce that Lynette has been offered and accepted a permanent position of Master. Stena Line’s first female Captain!

33 year old Lynette is Night Master on the Adventurer, which serves our busy Holyhead – Dublin route. Since joining Stena Line in 2017 she’s has worked herself through the ranks, gaining four promotions as a result of her professional, dedicated and diligent approach to her key leadership on the vessel.

SfärNytt caught up with Lynette to get her reaction to this prestigious appointment. “I am incredibly proud to be sailing as Master on the Stena Adventurer, and as the first female Master at the company, this could not have been done without the support of my colleagues at Stena Line”, said Lynette. 

“As a young woman I always dreamt of a career at sea and never thought I could ever achieve being a Captain. I hope my position can encourage more young women to follow my path and have a successful maritime career” she added.

Someone who is equally as proud of Lynette’s successes, is the Senior Master of Stena Adventurer, John Hambley Jones, who said: “This is a great team and a real inspiration for other women in our company, as well as the whole industry. A very proud moment for all onboard the Stena Adventurer”.

Stena Line’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is being driven from the very top of the company. The last word should, therefore, go to Margareta Jensen Dickson, Chief People and Communications Officer, who stressed the importance of greater diversity to the future success of the company: “The shipping sector is in a jobs’ crisis and it is one of the biggest issues Stena Line has ever faced. But there is a simple solution, which is to encourage more women to work in shipping. Maritime roles can no longer be seen as a male domain. With the appointment of Lynette Bryson as our first female Captain we have shown that women can and will succeed at sea and Stena Line will be here to support them”.

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GREAT ATMOSPHERE IN THE SAND

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

After stepping in as a backup in a game, Ida Larsson got a taste for beach volleyball and now she trains and competes regularly. The high-intensity team sport gives her great energy, which she brings into her work as a Team Leader at Stena Recycling.

For Ida, beach volleyball is a fun and challenging contrast to the football she has played since childhood.

“I like beach volleyball because it has high intensity and teamwork is key. It’s a very social sport with a positive atmosphere both on and off the court. Everyone pushes each other, no matter which side of the net you’re on,” she says. 

Ida lives in Gothenburg with her fiancé. She moved there in 2013 to study mechanical engineering at Chalmers University of Technology. Since 2018, she has been working as Team Leader for Sales and Operation Planning (S&OP) in the ferrous and stainless business area at Stena Recycling. Her daily work, together with her two colleagues in S&OP, mostly revolves around coordinating and optimizing the iron business – the right material to the right customer at the right time. She is now also working on implementing similar approaches in the alternative raw materials business area.

“The best part of my job is getting to work with all wonderful colleagues around Sweden and together create a sustainable and pro-fitable business for Stena Recycling,” she says.

 

A SOCIAL SPORT FOR THOSE WHO LIKE COOPERATION

Growing up in the small town of Hova, Ida played a lot of football. 

“I grew up in a big family with four siblings, three older brothers and a younger sister, and I’ve been playing football for as long as I can remember. In recent years, however, I’ve left my football shoes on the shelf and tried out some new sports, including beach volleyball, climbing and padel,” she says.

Since moving to Gothenburg, she has played beach volleyball sporadically just because it was fun, but thanks to a friend from the football team she now plays more seriously with one regular and a few spontaneous training sessions per week. 

“It all started when I got to play as a backup in a game with my football buddy and got a taste for it. I became a member of the club after that,” Ida explains. 

Nowadays she also competes in beach volleyball in her club the Gothenburg Beach Volley Club’s internal series. Every week, two matches are played, consisting of two scoring sets. Everyone from beginners to elite, seniors, and juniors, participates. For women, there were 14 groups in the fall, with six teams in each group divided into eight divisions. Gothenburg Beach Volley Club has more than 1,500 members and is Sweden’s largest beach volleyball club with the world’s largest beach volleyball center.

According to Ida, beach volleyball suits those who like a sport where you fight for every ball and enjoy cooperation. 

“It requires the ability to control a ball and to read the game, and a bit of stubbornness as I would say it takes a few practices to get into it, as with most sports,” she concludes.

THIS IS BEACH VOLLEYBOLL

Beach volleyball is a variation of volleyball played on sand. There are only two players on each team, which makes it less possible to cover the entire court. Therefore, beach volleyball is played with a significantly slower ball, and on a slightly smaller playing field, than traditional volleyball. Beach volleyball has been an Olympic sport since 1996.

NAMEIda Larsson
AGE30
NUMBER OF YEARS AT STENA4
TITLETeam Leader for Sales and Operation Planning
COMPANYStena Recycling
FAMILYFiancé
LIVESIn Gothenburg
INTERESTSBeach volleyball, climbing, padel, football, cooking, baking and plants
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A CHALLENGING BUT FUN JOB

OFFSHORE OIL RIG RECYCLING

Stena Recycling Norway’s solution-oriented way of tackling challenges is one of the reasons customers think they are a reliable partner when it comes to carrying out heavy-duty recycling commissions. One of their largest projects has been to handle spudcans, which are large and heavy inverted cones that are part of the legs of a liftable offshore oil rig.

The spudcan project was a very challenging and time-consuming project with several tough conditions to manage, including a tight timeframe and extreme heavy-duty lifting. 

“We have the best solution,” says Øyvind Sandve, Sales and Marketing Manager Rogaland at Stena Recycling Norway. “Apart from the risky business of lifting those extremely heavy constructions from the water onto a pier, our customer Westcon also knew that we could handle all the material in the best way for recycling purposes, and that we could get it all done within their tough timeframe.” 

A RISKY OPERATION INCLUDING MANY CHALLENGES

The biggest challenge was to lift the three spudcans out of the water as all parts of the lifting process are dangerous. Calculating the weight without blueprints was hard, knowing that the commissioned heavy-duty lifting vessel HLV Uglen’s max lift capacity was very near the estimated weight of each spudcan. The design of the spudcans makes them hold tons of water. Their shape creates a vacuum that holds the water as they are lifted. During the lift, there is a point where a lot of water suddenly rushes out of them. Movement, weight, and surroundings all influence how well the lifting process works at this point. To solve this, holes had to be made to let the water flow out more slowly and in a more controlled way. It was estimated that each spudcan held at least 30 tons of water. However, the crew soon realized that each spudcan was heavier than first anticipated. The captain of HLV Uglen decided that a reduction of metal weight had to be done. Stena Recycling then had to separate the fasteners from the spudcans, which reduced the weight enough for
HLV Uglen to be able to lift them.

It took Stena Recycling Norway more than seven days to get it all done. The preparations for the lift were most time-consuming as the lift itself only took a total of ten hours. Luckily, the weather stayed calm and steady, as required, for the duration of the process. 

Øyvind Sandve, Sales and Marketing Manager Rogaland at Stena Recycling Norway.

“Altogether, I worked some 85 hours those days. I’m proud that we could meet the challenges along the way, even if there were some iffy moments. It’s for sure a heavy, cold, sea-based, and overall tough job, but always fun,” says Øyvind.

The project included a lot more than the process of conducting the lift. Calculating costs, preparing the pier, logistics, manning, and planning for a safe and secure lift all took a lot of time. In the end, the total amount of steel lifted was 2,200 tons, which was later freighted to Mo i Rana in Norway for recycling. 

“This is what we do. We solve problems, using our excellent network of knowledge. We support our customers all the way. With the spudcans it involved moving them on the sea, lifting them, recycling them. All whilst we kept the costs down, solved problems as they occurred, and made sure all the material went back into the loop. Proud work, every day of the week!” Øyvind concludes.

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FINALIST IN E-PRIZE

SWEDEN'S LARGEST ENERGY PRIZE

BatteryLoop was one of this year's three finalists, in the Energy Efficiency category, for its smart energy storage made from recycled electric vehicle batteries.

“We are extremely happy and proud of this position! To be noticed for our competence and our innovational strength confirms that we are on the right track,” says Rasmus Bergström, CEO BatteryLoop. 

E-Prize is Sweden’s largest energy prize, which is awarded by Dagens Industri, Aktuell Håll-barhet and E.ON. The award was presented on November 16, 2021 during the Sustainable Business conference. 

“We are enablers for the transition and electrification of society. We do so by providing a fully circular solution. Our products are based on second-use batteries, so we are part of the circular solution, which is very important to us. We are contributing to the goal towards zero greenhouse emissions and securing the environment for the future and the next generations,” Rasmus Bergström continues. 

BatteryLoop’s smart energy storage system BLESS™ (BatteryLoop Energy Storage System) gives old electric vehicle batteries a second life. The commercial life of the batteries is secured and at the same time the environmental impact is reduced. In addition, the energy storage systems support the electric grid and enables an increase of renewable energy. 

“We are on an exciting journey on a market that is growing with over 40% per year. The market that we are aiming for is valued to over 500 billion SEK in ten years. Our biggest resource is competent and driven employees,” Rasmus Bergström concludes. 

FACTS ABOUT BATTERYLOOP

BatteryLoop is a start-up, with roots in the Stena sphere, that supports companies in the transition towards electrification. In April 2021, a vehicle charging system was inaugurated at the hygiene and health company Essity where now 78 charging stations for electric-and hybrid cars and 24 for electric bikes are provided with climate-neutral electricity. During the fall of 2021, BatteryLoop mapped the conditions for installing charging infrastructure in a number of real estate properties within the existing power supply. They also continued their work as part of the EU project ‘Sea Li-ion’ where they investigate how battery storage can enable and accelerate electrification of maritime transport and ports.

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STENA DON’S SUCCESS OFFSHORE MOROCCO

In September 2021, Stena Drilling were delighted to secure a contract with Chariot Energy Ltd to carry out drilling using the semi-submersible unit, Stena Don, as part of the Anchois Gas Development project in offshore Morocco. This was a very exciting prospect for all involved with the rig, as this was the farthest South that the Stena Don had ever worked.

Stena Drilling and Chariot agreed that drilling operations on the Lixus licence, offshore Morocco, would commence on 15th December 2021, lasting approximately 40 days. 

Following completion of its 5-year Subsea Blow-Out Preventer (BOP) recertification the Stena Don commenced preparation for drilling in the Lixus field to appraise the Anchois Gas Development. Once the cargo was loaded on-board the rig set sail from Scapa Flow in Orkney to the Lixus field in Morocco. The planned sail was due to last approximately 14 days, however, due to the time of year and potential risks involved with leaving Scapa Flow, the decision was taken to leave two weeks early to ensure that they would arrive on location on the agreed well ‘spud’, or commencement, date of December 15th. The Stena Don departed Scapa Flow on the 16th November and sailed to Belfast, where the team planned to complete their remaining sea trials and perform a crew change. 

The team made the right decision by leaving Scapa Flow early, as the wind was around 15 knots upon departure. Had they waited another week, they would have been forced to battle 60-80 knots gusts of wind which could have prevented them from leaving on time, and potentially causing delay to them arriving on location.

Upon leaving Belfast, the Stena Don was hit by storm Arwen. But being the harsh weather machine that she is, the rig was able to power through the storm and continue onward south safely. 

The Stena Don arrived on location in Morocco, ready to jump into action on the 13th December. The first task was to perform a crew change which held its own challenges. One-month previously, Morocco had closed its borders to foreign travellers due to the current COVID pandemic, so getting into the country was going to prove very challenging. Chariot Energy approached Moroccan local authorities who allowed the Stena Don team to enter the country via a charter flight. Crew were then transferred to the rig by boat. A couple of the team who were to be based in country were allowed in, but no other personnel could stay over-night in Morocco. This process worked well and was repeated for the first two crew changes. Eventually a method of crew changing through Algeciras in Spain using commercial airlines was established with crew sailing directly from there to the rig, which removed the need for the charter flight.

The team commenced well operations on 15th December 2021, with the ‘spudding’ of the Anchois-2 well. Spudding is the term used to define when the drilling rig first touches the seabed with the drill bit. The Stena Don team then proceeded to ‘jet’ the 36” conductor into the seabed which is effectively washing away the sand inside the conductor pipe as it travels further into the seabed until the required depth is reached. This conductor pipe then acts as the structural foundation for the well and all subsequent casing strings are hung off inside the large 36” diameter pipe. The rig then drilled the 26” hole section, followed by running and cementing in place a 20” diameter casing string with an 18 ¾” well head to accommodate the Subsea Blowout Preventer (BOP). The Stena Don owned BOP was then splashed below the water line, ran subsea and landed on the well head. The BOP links the Stena Don drilling rig to the well being drilled and allows the drill crew to drill smaller diameter hole sized sections of the well which have a higher-pressure envelope. The ability to have a heavy mud column in the well, as opposed to sea water, and the rig-owned BOP are the critical safety measures in place to ensure that the Stena Don rig crew are able to safely drill potential zones where hydrocarbons may be encountered. With the BOP safely landed on the wellhead the crew drilled the 17 ½” section and the 12 ¼” sections of the well to the required depth for Chariot to assess the hydrocarbon potential of the reservoir. All this work was completed with minimal down time, and the Stena Don crew worked closely with Chariot to identify opportunities for making operations more efficient at every stage of the programme.

Upon completion of the Anchois-2 well, the crew moved the rig to the Anchois-1 well (an existing well drilled approximately 12 years previously by another operator) to perform some checks of the well for Chariot using the Remotely Operated Subsea Vehicle (ROV) on-board the Stena Don. After completing a short scope of work at Anchois-1, the Stena Don commenced preparations to depart the country. 

One of the major issues that the Stena Don crew faced was the challenges that arose with the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a total of 9 COVID-19 cases onboard over the period of the contract. This was managed well onboard and their COVID isolation cabins were used in compliance with Stena Drilling’s COVID action procedures, which allowed the team to continue working without disruption.

Despite these obstacles, the project was an overarching success. The Stena Don rig safely and efficiently drilled the Anchois-2 well. Preliminary interpretation of data found throughout this project confirmed the presence of significant gas accumulations in the Anchois-2 well, with the discovery exceeding Chariot’s expectations. 

At the end of this successful campaign, the Stena Don set sail from Morocco, destined for Scapa Flow on 20th January 2022, with a planned stop-off in Belfast to perform a crew change and load the pilot required for entering Scapa Flow. The team arrived in Belfast on January 28th to perform the crew change, where once again, they were hit by severe weather.  On the journey from Belfast to Scapa Flow, the team encountered winds gusting up to 93 knots. During this time, the Stena Don moved into sheltered waters before continuing her transit to Scapa Flow. 

The Stena Don arrived at Scapa Flow on 4th February 2022, with anchors deployed and the rig safely moored within 24 hours. As soon as the Stena Don was moored up the team had the pleasure of welcoming an audit team arriving to assess the rig for another potential contract. This delighted everyone on-board and provided confidence that the rig was still the unit of choice in the UKCS despite the recent journey to warmer regions. 

The contract in Morocco was a real testament to the Stena Don’s capabilities as a unit that can work anywhere and get the job done to the highest standard. When you combine this with a great team effort – it certainly was a job well done! 

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SUSTAINABLE SHIPPING AND PHYSICAL PRESENCE ARE SUCCESS FACTORS FOR

STENA RORO IN CHINA

“It is a tremendous advantage having our own office in Asia, especially in China,” says John Kollander, Chartering Manager for Stena RoRo globally and head of the company's Shanghai office. He highlights the position of StenaSphere and Stena RoRo as a driver of sustainability and a success factor in Asia.

Stena RoRo builds and refits vessels that are chartered out to customers all over the world. The company has special expertise in customizing vessels for specific purposes. One example is the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, the Global Mercy, which was built at a shipyard in Tianjin in northern China and delivered this past spring. Stena RoRo is also helping to drive the move towards more sustainable shipping – something that is becoming increasingly important in Asia and which, according to John, will create future opportunities for Stena RoRo in China.

“Our development of new ship types is increasingly about environmental adaptation, and we are working hard with suppliers and shipyards, in China and elsewhere, to find solutions to match future environmental requirements,” says John. “Here, sustainability is much more in demand now than in the past, from both shipowners and banks. A clear example is green finance, which has thus far been mainly seen in the US and Europe. Its now a matter of interest and importance for the Chinese banks as well.”

Kevin Tang, GM, Northern Marine Management (Shanghai); Rikard Olsson, Project Manager, Stena RoRo ; Stacy Tao, Office Administrator Manager, Stena RoRo (Asia); John Kollander, General Manager Stena RoRo (Asia); Willy Gu, Business Development Manager, Stena RoRo (Asia).

OPENING DOORS FOR OTHER STENA COMPANIES

John works globally in buying and selling, and chartering and leasing vessels. The job also involves negotiating shipbuilding projects at various shipyards in China. Work usually involves considerable travel, mainly in Asia. But China’s zero tolerance regarding covid currently makes it almost impossible to travel in and out of the country.

“In some respects, I could do much of the same work from Gothenburg, but being on the ground in China is a huge benefit and enables business that would otherwise be more difficult or impossible. Physical presence is also important for long-term business development, perhaps especially in a country like China where GuanXi*(밑溝) is in many cases absolutely crucial closing a deal.”

John Kollander and the Shanghai office frequently represent other business areas within the Stena Group: Stena Finans, Stena Bulk and Stena Fastigheter, for example.

“We seize opportunities, serve as on-site representatives when needed and are door openers at an early stage. Thanks to Stacy Tao, our office administrator manager, we also have good access to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce here in Shanghai, which is good in many ways.”

* GuanXi is a difficult-to-translate word with a meaning similar to our words for relation-ships and connections.

M/V Saga is now working as an accomodation vessel for the dredging workers who are building an island outside Manila, Philippines, where their new airport "Manila-Bulacan International Airport" will be built.

METHANOL AND BATTERIES NEXT STEP

An important objective for Stena RoRo just now is to increase the number of orders for the E-Flexer vessels in the RoPax class. So far, twelve vessels have been ordered, half of which have now been completed and delivered from the Weihai shipyard in Shandong province. The latest vessels ordered will be able to run on LNG (natural gas), biogas and other, not yet commercially available, new fuels. The vessels will also be equipped with a large battery-hybrid package for propulsion and maneuvering in port.

“We’re now looking at building RoPax E-flexer vessels for methanol propulsion in combination with batteries. That will be the next big challenge,” says John.

To date, E-Flexer vessels have been built for one North American customer and two European, as well as for Stena Line. But there is interest from other quarters, according to John, mentioning that talks on E-Flexer vessels are also being held with Asian shipowners as well. More to follow.

The increasing business importance of sustainability is one of the reasons why John is very positive about Stena RoRo’s continued opportunities in China.

“Our joint venture with Proman (the world’s second-largest methanol producer) to develop alternative fuels for shipping can also create opportunities for us to scale up in China.”

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STACY TAO APPRECIATES

STENA'S CORPORATE CULTURE

Stacy Tao is the office administrator manager at Stena RoRo’s Shanghai office and says that the longer she works at Stena, the more she appreciates the values and culture. She especially stresses the importance of work with sustainability. Stacy is very committed to her job and has clear ambitions for the future – she is studying Swedish and would be happy to move to Gothenburg.

Raised in Shanghai, Stacy has a university degree with a major in English. When first asked if she was interested in working in shipping, she had never heard of Stena and had planned on taking some time off after a few hectic years at her former workplace. But after finding out more about Stena, she decided to accept the offer. She’s happy for that today. 

“I’m in absolutely the right place,” she says. 

In the fall of 2015, Stacy began working with purchases at Northern Marine Management in Shanghai. The company shared offices with other Stena companies, including Stena RoRo. Six months later, Stena RoRo would move to its own office, and site manager John Kollander was looking for someone who was good at office administration and accounting. Stacy, who alongside previous jobs had supplemented her education with accounting courses, got the job.

IT’S ALL ABOUT CARE

Scandinavian companies have a good reputation among Stacy’s friends, and she feels that her workplace and employer are very different from domestic corporations in Shanghai.

“Working in a Swedish company is very special. There is transparency here and people care about equality, diversity and, above all, sustainability. Everything at Stena is about caring – about the employees and their families, about the community and about the environment and sustainability. In designing our ships, we are striving for carbon-free shipping. The longer I work here the more I feel my choice was absolutely right.”

Other things that she both appreciates and feels is different from the local businesses is that at Stena, she is encouraged to say what she thinks and to learn new things by trying.

“I’m really quite a shy and cautious person, but my boss John Kollander has inspired me to be more daring. Before, I usually thought “I’m probably not ready for this” when facing a new challenge. I’ve now changed that to ‘I’ll try things and learn along the way’.”

WANTS TO SPEAK FLUENT SWEDISH

The impression that Stacy is serious about her ambitions is further strenthened when she mentions that she is studying Swedish.

“I took an immediate liking to the language very much, its accent. It made me happy!”she says, and tells me that she started studying Swedish at the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. One lesson a week for three months. But since then, she has had to continue on her own. Few people signed up to continue their studies due the complexity of the language, and there was thus no continuation course.

“Now I’m learning on my own by reading eight pages of news in Swedish every day and listening to Radio Sweden in easy Swedish. My goal is to be able to speak fluent Swedish. If you really want to integrate with a Swedish company, it’s an advantage to know the language.”

NAMEStacy Tao
AGE29
NUMBER OF YEARS AT STENA6
TITLEOffice Administrator Manager
COMPANYStena RoRo, Shanghai
FAMILYCohabitating partner
LIVESApartment ni Shanghai
INTERESTSYoga, travel, cardio, music (preferably opera) – and Swedish

LIFE OUTSIDE THE OFFICE

Stacy lives with her partner in an apartment in Shanghai. It takes her 45 minutes by subway to get to the office.

“We’re packed liked sardines in rush hour, but it works fine,” she says with a laugh.

Stacy likes to maintain a high tempo and has found something to help her manage it. During the past two years, she has become a diligent yoga practitioner.

“I usually do yoga at lunch, five days a week. Each pass begins with a few minutes of meditation. Yoga makes me better at concentrating.”

RESTRICTIONS AND TRAVEL

She has four colleagues at the office. Three work for Stena RoRo and one for Northern Marine. Early in the pandemic, in the spring of 2020, everyone worked away from home for six months, and China’s tough pandemic rules greatly affected everyone. The restrictions still make it difficult to travel in and out of China. Locally, life is increasingly returning to normal, according to Stacy. However, it is still mandatory with face masks in shops and in public transport, but nightclubs and restaurants are open.

Stacy likes to travel. Japan is among her favorite destinations, as is Sweden. Prior to the pandemic, Stacy visited Gothenburg four times in conjunction with Stena’s annual general secretary meeting.

“I remember when we got off the plane, the first time we came to Gothenburg. It was in October and it felt so refreshing! My partner, who is a tenor, was along and we visited the Gothenburg Opera. We would love to live in Gothenburg,” as she says in closing.

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NEW MARINE QUALITY ASSURANCE COMPANY FULLY OPERATIONAL

Maritime Global Services (MGS) – a new Northern Marine Group company – is now fully operational following successful launch of its marine quality assurance services in 2021.

The Company provides exclusive services to SeaRiver Maritime Inc. a subsidiary and maritime division of energy major ExxonMobil. 

MGS delivers vessel screenings, TMSA reviews, operator interface meetings, incident investigations, terminal audits as well as commercial and upstream activities with marine support and guidance.

Services are delivered by 35 employees across a network of hubs in Mumbai, Glasgow, Singapore, and Houston. 

The service provision follows part of what was previously undertaken by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, International Marine Transportation Ltd. 

Sandy Watt, Business Unit Head, Maritime Global Services, said: “The opportunity to form MGS and provide services to SeaRiver Maritime Inc., was built on the relationship that Northern Marine had developed over many years with SeaRiver Maritime Inc., through sustained quality services in various marine activities.

“Quality assurance within the marine industry is incredibly important to ensure risks associated with marine transportation are mitigated to as low as feasibly possible, protecting people, assets and the environment. 

“Our client requires that any asset utilised within their marine sphere of operation is rigorously assessed against the highest industry standards and best practices, and this is what we ensure.”

Marta Duszyk, Assistant Marine Quality Assurance Specialist, MGS Glasgow.

Philip Fullerton, Managing Director, Northern Marine Group added: “At Northern Marine we have worked diligently over the years to build the trust of the world’s largest energy providers through first class service.

“This new service provision demonstrates the confidence SeaRiver Maritime Inc., has placed in us to ensure that highest safety and operational standards on vessels within their sphere are achieved.

“Everyone involved in the launch of MGS and the seamless transition of service delivery from IMT deserves to be commended for their exceptional efforts during challenging circumstances caused by the global pandemic.”

Maritime Global Services is a stand-alone Business Unit operationally separated from Northern Marine’s ship management activity, which ensures the independence and objectivity of the marine quality assurance activities performed. 

Northern Marine also separately supports SeaRiver Maritime Inc. with provision of experienced marine contractors to assist in the delivery of their marine technical operations. 

Many of those personnel are hand selected from Northern Marine’s global pool of Merchant Navy officers who serve in the Company’s managed fleet of vessels.

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