To staying relevant takes work. Worst case, we rest on our laurels believing that what we’re doing well today will be enough tomorrow. That attitude is a certain recipe for disaster in the rapidly changing world we operate in. A better outcome is to be able to adapt and follow our customers as they change. The best case is if we can proactively change and evolve to be ready to provide the best services and solutions for the future when it arrives. 

The last few months have once again shown that one can never take stability for granted. We need to be capable of handling change. But an equally important lesson for me is how crucial it is to not get side-tracked and lose focus of our long-term strategy and goals. When an issue is drawing everyone’s attention, it is the right time to take the long-term view and make sure we are positioned to stay relevant. 

Even if Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created a shortage of raw materials that have benefitted the profitability of Stena Metall, the war is sending shockwaves through supply chains that will affect us later on. But the war is also a reminder of how reliant the economy is on oil, gas and other finite resources. This dependence seems to last longer than most of us believe today, but long term this crisis could actually help Europe to speed up the transition to a low-carbon society, by making itself less dependent on those resources. 

Let us take a moment to look at how various Stena Sphere companies are not only adapting, but proactively leading the way, with sustainability. 

STENA METALL – SUSTAINABILITY AS A CORE BUSINESS

Stena Metall’s core business is to care for resources. Each ton of ferrous scrap, aluminum, or plastic that gets recycled through its businesses is a ton less needed to extract at the cost of CO2 emissions, loss of water & biodiversity. For example, 1 ton of recycled aluminum saves 95% of energy compared to producing 1 ton of virgin aluminum. Last year, the group contributed to 7.8 million tons of avoided CO2 emissions – roughly the equivalent of 1.7 million gasoline-driven cars.

From companies that have started to report their emissions publicly, it is clear that a very large share comes from the materials and components they buy, and the waste they create. By taking care of that waste and turning it into new resources, Stena Metall actively helps our customers reduce their carbon footprint. It is valuable today and will be even more valuable tomorrow. In fact, the demand for recycled metals could explode in the near future as initiatives like Hybrit and H2 Green Steel scale up and start demanding ferrous scrap as raw material. 

Of course, Stena Metall’s operations produce CO2 emissions too, though less than 10% of what it helps to avoid. But committed and systematic work to reduce those emissions are giving result: 

• Road transports contribute almost a third of Stena Metall’s emissions, so by reducing emissions from fuels we can accomplish a lot. Replacing diesel with HVO fuel is one action that helped reduce group emissions by 9% last year, despite higher energy consumption.

• In April, Stena Recycling Group joined the Science Based Targets initiative. It commits companies to set and report on quantitative CO2 reduction targets. First, out of the gate, Stena Recycling AB has set the goal to reduce its Scope 1 & 2 emissions (emissions from own activities) by 70% from 2020 to 2030, and reduce Scope 3 (emissions from purchased goods and services, waste, and more) by 30%.

TOWARDS BECOMING OUR CUSTOMERS’ CIRCULAR ECONOMY PARTNER

From the first scrap trading business started by my father in 1939, Stena Recycling Group has developed into the biggest and most sophisticated industrial recycler in the Nordics. But we cannot stop there. As the market changes our value proposition must change with it. That is why the Stena Recycling strategy is to become our customers’ leading circularity partner. 

A large part of this evolution is to expand our value proposition into services, for example by creating a new consulting service. Stena Circular Consulting is already helping several publicly traded customers be more sustainable by becoming more circular. Stena Recycling has also launched Circular Solutions to help companies like ABB and Alfa Laval create a commercial offering around the take-back and recycling of inefficient equipment and replacing it with new and efficient models that save energy.

Stena Recycling is also driving new business ventures to make more of the resources we have. Here are some examples:

• Together with Blomsterlandet, an Adactum-owned gardening retail chain, Stena Recycling has developed a compost recipe to make soil from waste materials coming out of the pulp and paper industry. The solution adds value in two ways. First, it is a useful product made with waste that was previously not very useful. Second, it helps Blomsterlandet lower its emissions when it displaces peat-based soil in the store since peat is considered to be a fossil resource.

• BatteryLoop creates value by creating energy storage solutions from used batteries that have a high residual capacity. 

• HaloSep is a unique solution to extract metals, salts and other minerals from residual waste from incineration. It was developed within Stena Metall’s R&D department in 2010 and is now a stand-alone company at the beginning of its growth journey. 

Stena Recycling’s position as a circular economy partner is well-timed with on-going trends in society. In April, the group published a survey asking 5,000 consumers in the Nordics about their priorities. 65% wanted to adapt their consumption to a low-carbon lifestyle. A majority believed businesses are responsible for making consumption more sustainable, for example by using more recycled materials. Stena Recycling stands ready to catch the wind of this shift in consumer attitudes. 

SR Energy (Scandinavian Renewable Energy), former Stena Renewable, a company that was started 16 years ago by us at Stena Adactum, In August SR Energy will be the largest windmill company in Sweden, with a yearly reduction of CO2 emissions of 1.26 million tons equivalent to 2.7% of all territorial emissions in Sweden. Our share of the company is today 20% and our planned future investments in order to produce more sustainable electricity are huge.

Stena Fastigheter is well on track to reduce our CO2 emissions by 33% in comparison to 2018. Our newest residential development will be up to 73% self-sufficient in energy when it is ready. 

The Stena Fleet of vessels are developed by finding technical solution enabling us to reduce fuel consumption operation-ally as well as by new technology. Operationally we reduce our emissions by roughly three percent per year on comparable routes. Technology wise, Stena Embla our latest newbuilding on our Dublin-Holyhead, route only consumes half the fuel in comparison to the equivalent ferry she trades in tandem with. We were the first ship owner in the world to convert a large ferry to methanol power, already in 2016. Methanol is today regarded as one of the most commercially available pathways toward reducing CO2 emissions. As energy will be a scarce resource going forward, we have to continue to focus on energy efficiency and we need to do so from both a technical, operational and strategic perspective. Going forward Stena has the ambition to sell energy efficiency solutions also to other shipowners. Both Stena Line and Stena Bulk have clear plans for how to reduce emissions from the vessels and comply with upcoming environmental legislation. Luckily most of our vessels are in principle built to comply with foreseeable new legislation.

Long term, methanol is one of the pathways to reduce emissions building on our experiences from Stena Germanica. The partnership Stena Bulk has with the world’s second-largest producer of methanol exemplifies this pathway. Together with the engine producer MAN, Stena Line and Stena Teknik are planning for the world’s first conversion of 4-stroke MAN engines to methanol. 

For ferries, electrification is a viable future option. As an electric engine is a lot more efficient than any other fuel option the future will probably be electric for the shorter ferry routes. By our knowledge from BatteryLoop (another Stena Metall company) we are well prepared to handle this technology.

Stena is well-positioned to take a leading position in the ongoing transition of shipping. We have technical know-how and expertise from in-house R&D in Stena Teknik and Northern Marine Group. We also have 10,000 directly employed sea-going staff giving in-depth operational competence and we have an innovative culture and history of market-leading innovations. In addition to that we have close customer relationships with cargo owners, who rely on us to support them in their transitions. 

To conclude, I am confident that we are doing the work to not only stay relevant but to be even more useful in a world where curbing emissions is ever more important. Change is hard work, and I want to take the opportunity to thank all of you who are involved in making all these innovations and changes happen.

Together, we can do it!

Dan Sten Olsson

Göteborg May 2022

But for nearly 15 years, I’ve spent as much time as I could in the stable. The only problem is that for me, horses are like an addiction – there’s that constant attraction. At least five hours in the stable every day is a bit difficult to combine with a full-time job, children who need to be driven to school and activities, cooking, homework, conversations with my husband and everything else that a family needs. 

But the horses’ attraction is strong. I recently had the privilege of attending one of Stena’s leadership modules that included horses, and I was reminded of how much I love those beautiful animals. After two days of training with five horses, it felt perfectly reasonable to stuff at least two of the horses in my bag or steal a truck and drive home with my new friends. 

What is it that makes horses so irresistible? For me, it has never been about the competitions or the prizes. It’s been about the contact with the horses and the joy of being with these animals that require our presence and show their trust in return. Happiness has been in carrying out the various horse-related chores and in just being with the horses. Putting in so much time and energy and then seeing a happy horse or getting a kiss from a warm mule makes it all worthwhile. 

You can find the same joy in doing those little things that need to be attended to on the way to completing a job. When I work with things I’m passionate about, when I am surrounded by colleagues who support and challenge me, and when we work together to be better than we thought we could. That’s when I can find myself taking a few leaps of joy in the corridors and getting that same wonderful feeling as after a perfect turn on the haunches in a dressage training session. I think that if we can find that joy in being together and doing things together, we can achieve so much more. And I believe we can learn from the trust and unconditional love horses show us when we are honest and present.

Disa Hammarskjöld

Head of Business performance & strategy, Stena Rederi AB

very weekend throughout the spring, the Öckerö Maritime Center (ÖMC) outside of Swedish Gothenburg, will host groups of seasonal recruits who will learn maritime safety and become ambassadors for Stena Line’s safety culture. Petter Nystedt is one of the education managers at ÖMC, and he’s been with the association since its establishment in 1998. 

“If there’s a fire at work, most people just go out and stand in the evacuation area, he says, but the demands on those who work at sea are much greater. Whether you work in the cafeteria or within the deck or engine departments, you need to know a whole lot about firefighting, medical care, and evacuation.”

SAFETY STARTS WITH YOU!

In addition to having to follow the strict maritime legislation for passenger ships, Stena Line also has its own safety culture with the motto “Safety starts with you!”. The common thread is that every employee should be led by and always show genuine care for each other and for the passengers.

“Stena Line has always put safety first. We want to be associated with quality and a high level of safety awareness. That’s why it’s amazing to be able to cooperate with a qualitative maritime education centre like ÖMC,” says Mikael Lindgren, one of six Marine Superintendents, responsible for implementing Stena Line’s safety culture.

ÖMC is a non-profit association that started as an education centre for fishermen in Sweden, after several accidents had occurred. Safety courses for seafarers (STCW courses) were added over time and when the international regulatory framework for safety at sea was updated in 2011, the role of ÖMC became even more important, as the then new rules stated that everyone working at sea must update their skills every five years.

Between 2,500 and 3,000 people pass through one of ÖMC’s two training facilities in Sweden each year, on Öckerö outside of Gothenburg and Rindö in the Stockholm archipelago. In addition to the 13 in-house employees, about 60 instructors are hired each year to teach the three main pillars of the education: fire, medical care, and water. ÖMC educates, among others, all volunteer maritime rescuers in Sweden, personnel from the Swedish Maritime Administration, the Swedish Armed Forces, high school students, and personnel from various shipping companies. Since 2009, it has trained most of Stena Line’s seasonal recruits. 

“We feel that we have been able to create something extra special together with ÖMC, not least because we have been able to set up a real MES”, says Mikael Lindgren.

EVACUATION DRILLS SPARKS CONFIDENCE

MES stands for Marine Evacuation System, and it is an inflatable system of slides down to life rafts designed to quickly evacuate large numbers of people from a ferry. Stena Line placed a MES on ÖMC in 2013 to be able to conduct realistic drills with evacuation to life rafts in the water. This year, Stena Line purchased a new MES after their first one having become worn out.

“We are the only training centre in Northern Europe with a MES this big in water. All of Stena Line’s seasonal recruits will test how to evacuate with it. But we’re careful to tell that you’re not here to show off, but to learn. It’s great to see people who are afraid of jumping conquer their fear and gain new confidence”, says Petter Nystedt.

Mikael Lindgren also stresses the importance of taking the edge off nervousness. One way to do this is to show how all safety work follows a process. Our crews are large, and every co-worker has an important, but at the same time specific and very definite, role in the big picture. 

THE MARITIME LEGISLATION ON SAFETY AT SEA

There are several conventions on safety at sea, but the most important is the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, or SOLAS for short.

The first SOLAS Convention of 1914 was drawn up after RMS Titanic sinking in 1912 and stipulated that every person on board must have their own life jacket and a place in a lifeboat.

The current version is from 1974 and became effective in 1980 but has since then been updated several times. It is therefore commonly referred to as “SOLAS, 1974, as amended”. 

Nowadays, the SOLAS convention regulates many different areas, including how ships should be equipped and how cargo should be handled.

The International Safety Management Code (The ISM Code) is a chapter in the SOLAS which, among other things, sets a standard for how operations at sea should be planned and managed, and how to act in the event of an accident.

The agreement between BatteryLoop and Mercedes-Benz Energy is a frame agreement with call off options of batteries, DC systems and engineering. BatteryLoop will use the Mercedes-Benz Energy batteries for their large BLESS™ (BatteryLoop Energy Storage System) product range.

“We are very happy and proud to have signed this agreement! This means that we can offer our state-of-the-art energy storage solution BLESS™ built on Mercedes-Benz Energy’s high-quality products. The market for large energy storage systems is increasing with the change to renewable energy production. Meeting this business opportunity, together with Mercedes-Benz Energy, is very encouraging,” says Rasmus Bergström, CEO BatteryLoop.

The contract will secure high volumes of new and second use battery modules from Mercedes-Benz Energy to BatteryLoop. This could enable BatteryLoop to roll out 40-megawatthours within the next 18 months using Mercedes-Benz Energy’s modules. The first delivery will be during 2022 of a 2-megawatthours system with the power of 3-megawatt installed in Sweden by BatteryLoop. Two megawatt hours equals approximately 10,000 kilometers driving with an electric car. This type of technology will support the electricity grid and unburden bottlenecks by providing electricity in the right moments. 

“With second-use batteries and a power-optimizing system we can also, based on the Swedish environmental research institute lifecycle analysis, save 1,000-ton CO2 emissions per 3-megawatt energy storage system from the production, and at the same time generate the same benefits for the grid. Additionally, we see that these systems can generate a 7-10 million SEK net income per year for the customer,” Rasmus continues.

Having a partner with the long-term engagement in the field of energy storage systems (ESS) is important to Mercedes-Benz Energy.

“With the company BatteryLoop we have got a partner that has showed deep knowledge in the ESS market, and we are convinced that our products will be an important role for the markets BatteryLoop has. The long-term engagement we see in BatteryLoop and its owner is a key for our decision,” says Gordon Gassmann, CEO Mercedes-Benz Energy.

BATTERYLOOP

BatteryLoop makes companies more sustainable by offering know-how, services, and products to create power-optimizing energy solutions that meet the growing need for power in real time. Old electric vehicle batteries are given a second life in the BLESS™ (BatteryLoop Energy Storage System). The systems support the electric grid and enables an increase of renewable energy. BatteryLoop is a Gothenburg based start-up company in the Stena Metall Group, providing pioneer power optimization for a
sustainable electrified world.

MERCEDES-BENZ ENERGY

Mercedes-Benz Energy offers innovative solutions in the battery storage market based on electric vehicle (EV) batteries internationally. As a pioneer in battery storage technology, Mercedes-Benz Energy has accumulated extensive expertise to use EV batteries for stationary application. With the help of a highly sophisticated data management system, the conditions of all Mercedes-Benz EV batteries can be analyzed, ascertained and future life can be forecasted. As a fully owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, the solutions from Mercedes-Benz Energy meet the highest demands in terms of quality, functionality, reliability, and security.

Stena Recycling Sweden joined the Science Based Targets initiative in January 2021. All Stena Recycling companies, present on eight markets, now commit to the initiative. Stena Recycling Sweden will maintain its company level target, while also participating in the targets set for all Stena Recycling companies.

“It is a natural step for us to have all companies of Stena Recycling joining the Science Based Targets initiative,” says Anna Sundell, Group Sustainability Manager. “We are already working together to deliver the best solutions within circularity to our customers. By joining the Science Based Targets initiative, we now also make a clear joint commitment to reduce our climate footprint.”

The level of ambition of the common target is to contribute to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees, in accordance with the Paris Agreement. Stena Recycling is also committing to setting a long-term net zero target in accordance with the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign, striving to become climate neutral by 2050 at the latest. Setting incisive climate goals is nothing new for the Stena Recycling companies as they have previously been working with energy efficiency and reduced climate impact on company level. By setting a common target, Stena Recycling will now scale up the process and draw further advantage from shared learnings and benefit of scale. 

“Having all Stena Recycling companies working on a common platform will create valuable synergies that will lead to positive and important results for us, for our customers and for the environment. We are all facing the major challenge of limiting global warming. Joining this international initiative, that many of our customers work within, is a way for us to take responsibility for what we can do to run our businesses without carbon emissions,” says Kristofer Sundsgård, CEO of Stena Recycling Group.

The next step is to develop a more detailed plan for the targets and have them approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. The first part of the process will be to conduct a thorough inventory of all greenhouse gas emissions in the value chain. The aim is to submit the targets for validation to the Science Based Targets initiative in spring 2023.

SCIENCE BASED TARGETS INITIATIVE (SBTi) is a global organization that aims to help and support companies set climate goals. These goals must be relevant and contribute to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, compared to pre-industrial levels, according to current scientific opinion.

“This was a very exciting assignment and a milestone for Stena Circular Consulting as this was the first major assignment we have taken on,” says Mats Linder, Head of Operations. “Stena Circular Consulting’s unique combination of market-leading expertise in recycling and circular economy, especially in issues related to product design and business models, is a strong contributing factor to us being awarded the contract by Polestar.”

The assignment was conducted in collaboration with a core team at Polestar, and another independent consultant who investigated complementary elements of the scheme, as part of a wider circular economy program being run by the car manufacturer.

“This is a great example of how Polestar, through the project, is getting a head start in designing and creating systems for a car that can be fully circular. We have done our utmost to assist in this work in the best possible way and thus we hope to have established a strong working relationship that can lead to more exciting collaborations in the future,” Mats Linder concludes.

Stena Circular Consulting (SCC) is an international consulting business and part of the Stena Recycling Group. Stena Circular Consulting supports companies in their development towards sustainable circular solutions that provide both environmental and business value. 

Stena Fastigheter regularly conducts security surveys among its tenants. A comparison with other housing management companies of the same average size shows that over a 10-year period, Stena Fastigheter is better than most when it comes to perceived security. 

“We’ve been working on social sustainability through our relationship management activities for 20 years,” says Cecilia Fredholm Vaarning, Sustainability Manager at Stena Fastigheter. “It’s gratifying to see that investing in strategic and long-term initiatives in our neighborhoods is delivering results. Two of our neighborhoods have been removed from the police list of particularly vulnerable areas through good cooperation with other stakeholders, and a comparison with other companies of our size shows strong improvements in terms of security in Stena Property’s neighborhoods. In addition, 621 young people have received summer jobs through our efforts.”

STENA FASTIGHETER’S SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

Stena Fastigheter has set overall goals for its work with sustainability. Among the measurable goals are: halving our climate footprint by 2030, and for more tenants to feel safe and secure, and like where they live.

“Working with others, is the solution to complex challenges,” says Cecilia Fasth, CEO at Stena Fastigheter “Together with our suppliers and partners, we have started innovative energy and construction projects, implemented circular renovation projects and initiated new ways of driving local development, all to reduce our climate impact and increase the well-being of our tenants in our neighborhoods.”

When it comes to climate work, Stena Fastigheter is seeing strong improvements, including in terms of the carbon dioxide emissions that we can influence ourselves, in other words, scopes 1 and 2. Here, the company has halved emissions compared to 2018, the year on which we base our progress. In our efforts to halve our overall climate footprint to 2030, there are several initiatives, including a major focus on apartment renovations.

“We are seeing substantial progress in our apartment renovation program,” says Cecilia Fasth. “By analyzing an entire apartment, setting priorities based on climate impact and by testing different solutions, we have managed to reduce our impact by 16 per cent per square meter of living space.”

GOOD SUSTAINABILITY NEWS FROM STENA FASTIGHETER FOR 2021

• First in Sweden with a sustainability loan from Handelsbanken, related to security in our neighborhoods.
• 621 young people have received summer jobs via Stena Fastigheter.
• In 2021, Stena Fastigheter developed its own calculation tool to calculate the total climate footprint of an entire apartment. Which contributed to reduced climate impact for our plus-renovated apartments at 16 percent per square foot of living space.
• The Swan certification became Stena Fastigheter’s joint certification for all new production.
• Tynnered and Karlslund were removed from the police list of particularly vulnerable areas, confirming the effect of Stena Fastigheter’s long-term efforts for improved security and well-being.
• Stena Fastigheter signed a climate contract with the City of Malmö, thus contributing to the transition to a more climate-smart city.
• Record year in climate-smart energy. In Stockholm, Stena Fastigheter has more than doubled the number of solar energy installations.

STENA FASTIGHETER’S MOST IMPORTANT SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

• By 2030, the climate footprint is to be halved. (All activities are covered, including the supply chain. Reported under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol).
• Even more tenants will be feeling safer and more secure, and like where they live.
• 1,100 new sustainable homes to be created each year.

Read the sustainability report in Swedish.

A range of diverse vessels, including innovative market-leading newbuilds, are being supported with full technical and crew management services. 

15 Vessels scheduled to join the Fleet this year include 4 dual-fuel (LPG) Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGC), 4 dual-fuel (methanol) Medium-Range tankers, a Floating Storage Unit (FSU) and 6 Handysize LPG tankers. 

Most vessels into management are with existing clients, with 2 new clients working with Northern Marine Management for the first time. 

Further additional new business has also been awarded with delivery of vessels planned for future years ahead.

Sean McCormack, Ship Management Director, said: “Following a period of relative stability in Fleet size, we are seeing an increase in new tonnage coming into management. 

“This is not unexpected as we have worked hard in recent years on new business opportunities and demonstrating our competence and expertise, particularly in Gas vessel management where we humbly consider ourselves as market leaders.

“While we wish to keep a balanced variety of vessel-type in our Fleet, it is indeed an interesting moment to have for the first time an equal split of gas carriers and oil/chemical tankers under management.”

Northern Marine has been heavily involved in several exciting and industry leading events in recent times, including the conversion of an LNG fuelled slow speed marine diesel engine to operate on ethane as a fuel, the retrofit installation of LNG Sub cooling systems onto LNG carriers, and the management of a newbuild dual-fuel VLGC equipped with an LGIP engine.

Northern Marine also had the honour of delivering an LNG dual fuel E-flexer RoPax from China to Europe for a Stena RoRo client where the vessel operated on LNG fuel for a significant portion of the delivery voyage.

Sean added: “As is the nature of ship management, the size of our Fleet is always in a state of flux with vessels coming and going depending on clients’ requirements.

“When an increased number of vessels coming into management occurs, such as now, it brings with it welcome pressures such as the requirement to crew the vessels, ensure the vessels meet our rigorous operating standards, and all the associated administration required to incorporate the operation of multi-million-dollar assets into our Fleet.

“By design, we are not a mass-volume ship manager as it is very important to us that we ensure that we protect standards of safety and quality across the Fleet and grow in a measured manner.

“It is important that the ship owner clients we support share our values and ambition to achieve more sustainable shipping.”

But what should you think about when you go out to the mountains, beech forests or farmlands? What do you need to pack and what is superfluous? Here are some tips and advice that can hopefully inspire more people to get out and experience our rich natural environments.

TRAILS FOR ALL LEVELS

Even if you want to go all in with your project, you should probably be a bit realistic. So look for easier hiking trails with shorter segments and where you can spend the night in a cabin or hostel. If you decide to hike in the mountains and are a beginner, a good alternative is to choose day trips that start from a mountain station. This way, you don’t need to carry your entire kit. 

PACKING LIST

Once you’ve hiked a few times, you have a better idea of what you need to bring and what you can leave at home. There are many good websites with lists of what to pack depending on where you hike, but here are some obvious things that need to be included in your kit:

• Warm clothes, extra clothes, rainwear
• Double layer socks to avoid abrasions 
• Properly fitting footwear
• Soap for washing, cleaning and doing dishes
• Food, drink, hiking stove, cutlery (spork), backpacker mug
• Plastic bag for trash
• Mosquito repellent, sunscreen and cap
• Basic medical supplies
• Flashlight/headlamp
• Knife, matches/fire striker
• Map and compass
• Toilet paper and gardening shovel
• Needle, thread and duct tape

RIGHT OF PUBLIC ACCESS

The right of public access is found in Sweden and in a few other countries and means that you can pass unhindered in rural areas. You must show consideration to landowners, animals and natural features, as well as to other people. There are certain restrictions, such as respecting private property and private property boundaries in the vicinity of housing. In national parks and preserves, the right of public access can be extended but sometimes also limited. Find out what applies before you leave. You can camp on private land, but away from property boundaries, cultivated fields or arable land. You can also fish with a rod in the Swedish lakes Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren, Hjälmaren and Storsjön and along the coasts. Salmon fishing along the Norrland coast is excluded. In other places, you may need the landowner’s permission or a fishing license. Remember to show consideration to nature and always pick up after yourself. Find out what rules apply in your country and where you should hike before you go out.

WHY SHOULD YOU HIKE?

In addition to fantastic nature experiences and even challenges with mosquitoes and blisters, hiking has many positive effects on the body. A stay in natural surroundings causes the heart rate to drop and the amount of the stress hormone cortisol to decrease. Hiking is both easy on the body and simple. Regular walking increases the burning of body fat, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and lowers your blood pressure. If you hike in more difficult terrain, more muscles are activated and your heart rate increases.

See all the main trials in Sweden (only in Swedish).

Have a great summer and good luck with your hike!

Markus Lindbom has for the last 17 years worked in different companies and roles within Stena. Prior to that he served as seagoing Officer. During his first nine years Markus held commercial roles at Stena Bulk. Thereafter he joined Stena Line as Director Ship management and HR. For the last six years he has been the Chief Commercial Officer at Stena Line.

Carl-Johan Hagman, has chosen to move on to opportunities outside of Stena. He will during a transitional period continue to support specific ongoing projects and also remain at the Board of Stena Glovis and NMT. Carl-Johan Hagman will remain Chairman of the Board of Concordia Maritime AB.

“Carl-Johan Hagman has been a key contributor in the development of our business for more than a decade and I would like to thank him for what he has brought to the company. I am very pleased that Markus Lindbom has accepted the position as CEO of Stena Rederi. He has a long career within Stena and his knowledge and experience within shipping will be a great contribution to the future success of our shipping business”, says Dan Sten Olsson, CEO.

“We have exceptional expertise and are able to provide value to our customers in the shipping industry through our strengths in marine engineering, quality of operation and business acumen. I’m looking forward to contributing to the continued journey as we apply these strengths to grow and further develop our business based on the challenges and opportunities that global shipping will be facing in the years to come,” says Markus Lindbom.

Teleworking, digitalization, high rates of change and massive information flows are now the new normal. How do companies work with leadership and organizational development in light of this, and how do they want to shape their organizations and guide their employees? Karin Zingmark, author, lecturer and former head of marketing at Microsoft Sweden, was on hand to talk about these topical issues. 

“Change is great when you feel you can make a difference, but that’s rarely the case at the workplace,” says Karin. “If you sulk and are generally ill-mannered, negative energy is created. Innovation and development require trust-based leadership. When we feel included, our bodies produce the neuropeptide hormone oxytocin, which gives us more energy, lowers stress, increases engagement and satisfaction, lowers absenteeism and leads to fewer cases of burnout.”

NETWORK MEETINGS BACKGROUND

The basic idea behind Stena’s network meetings is to get to know each other so as to cooperate and manage day-to-day duties in a better and more efficient way. It’s also about learning more about Stena as a whole and learning from each other.

With this in mind, Ingvar Plogfeldt, Customer Relations Manager at Stena’s travel agency Clyde Travel was also at the meeting. Clyde Travel is headquartered in Glasgow and is represented at a further eight locations around the world, of which Gothenburg is one. In 2022, the agency will also be opening an office in Singapore, and its clients are in the marine, offshore oil & gas, renewables and corporate sectors. Ingvar explained how the company works and that it has the opportunity to connect directly with travel companies, which means competitive prices. Clyde Travel also has an improved online booking solution that will be tested in May/June. 

The day ended with a tour of Elite Park Avenue Hotel’s rooms and new conference facilities and dinner together.

Jeanette Johansson is the coordinator and responsible for the network meetings.

INGVAR’S BEST TRAVEL TIPS

• For the best price, book your trip 9–15 days before you travel
• Check the hand luggage policy as different airlines have different rules
• Book online and save money

KARIN’S 8 TIPS FOR INCREASING THE LEVEL OF TRUST IN YOUR ORGANIZATION

• Recognize success in the form of positive feedback
• Set clear and challenging objectives
• Avoid micro-management
• Let people’s passion empower them
• Be generous with information
• Focus on building genuine relationships with each other
• Facilitate personal and professional development
• Open up and reveal vulnerabilities to each other

Diversity and inclusion is an extremely im-portant issue from a business perspective. As Vivienne Cox pointed out during an interview with Annika Hult, Deputy CEO for Stena AB, it is even fundamental for successful business operations. For example, there are studies showing that companies with diversity at the senior level are 15 per cent more profitable than other companies. 

“The workforce of tomorrow is going to look very different from the workforce 20 years ago, and this has major impact on our business operations,” says Vivienne Cox. “There is also a lot of evidence that diverse teams made up of different genders, people from different backgrounds, orientations and viewpoints generates innovation, creativity and better decision making. To succeed in the future, we need to find and make use of all talent that exist. But that’s not enough – we also need to create inclusive environments where people want to stay.” 

She believes there are several reasons why diversity will play an increasingly important role for businesses in the future and in the structure of tomorrow’s workforce. More women earning degrees, increased globalisation with needs for different ethnic and cultural perspectives, as well as the aging population meaning everyone needs to work longer, are among the most important reasons. 

“If we look at diversity from a gender perspective, 60 per cent of all graduates globally are women,” Vivienne Cox points out. “So, if we can attract and retain the very best, if we can allow those women to make a really full contribution to the business, then it’s an opportunity for us. The other dimension is that 85 percent of all purchasing decisions globally are made by women. They control USD 32 trillion of worldwide spending. So, if we can design goods and services that appeal to women, it’s a huge opportunity. But that will only work if the products and services are designed with women’s input, for them”

Her own commitment to diversity issues was awakened early on, when she worked at the global energy group BP. The year she started there, in the early 80s, 50 per cent of the graduates recruited were women. After 10 or 15 years, she was the only one left. The first few years in management at BP, she found it difficult to do right in the male-dominated environment. Where men were appreciated for being determined and speaking up, she was accused of being unfeminine when she did the same thing. She also noticed that it was a leadership style that didn’t suit her especially well.

“It led me to develop my own leadership style based on what was authentic and true to me,” says Vivienne Cox. “It was still about delivery, but in my own way. And I was very fortunate that BP judged me on my delivery and was very supportive of me doing it in my own way.”

Vivienne stresses the importance of understanding how an organisation can discourage certain voices. 

“A lot is about creating an environment and culture where everyone can and wants to fully participate. With this, we come back to what Dan Sten Olsson talked about earlier at the Stena Digital Summit – creating an environment of trust and confidence where people feel safe expressing themselves. We need to realise that we are different and strive to want to understand each other, learn from each other and respect each other.” 

She points out that there is much to be done in enabling diversity and inclusion in terms of systems and processes. For example, it could be a matter of looking at how to recruit, the language used when recruiting and what is valued when promoting. Other measures may include setting up supportive structures such as mentoring as well as diversity and inclusion councils, for example. But that’s not enough.

“What we really are talking about here is changing the culture and that takes time and requires constant attention and focus,” says Vivienne Cox. “But if we can change the culture and create an environment where people genuinely want to bring all of themselves to work and are able to contribute, then we can use their talents. Then we can deliver products and services that women find attractive and get that fifteen percent uplift in profitability. But it won’t come automatically. I think it’s a huge business opportunity. If we succeed, I think that the environments we create will be very attractive for everybody to work in. And that they will be environments where everybody can give everything to the benefit of the business.”

After the presentation, Annika Hult picked some of the questions from the audience. One of them was about what each of us can do to foster trust and confidence in our teams.

“That’s a great question! I think it is about respecting and understanding each other as human beings,” says Vivienne Cox. “An important part of this is about really listening. Ask yourself how you did at your last meeting. How much time did you spend listening to what others were saying, and how much on preparing your own answer? Because it’s only when we listen actively that we really understand each other and can exchange perspectives.”

“Inclusion and diversity are, for the above reasons, incredibly important for ensuring that we are successful in the long term. This is also the reason why we are setting goals for diversity and encourage initiatives for Diversity & Inclusion in all Stena’s companies. Of paramount importance is the support and expertise we have among our owners, as well as our boards of directors and management teams,” concludes Maria Holmberg, Director People & Organisational Excellence, Stena AB.

STENA RORO:

STENA RORO IS ASSISTING MARAD IN THE PURCHASE OF TWO VESSELS FOR THE READY RESERVE FORCE (RRF)

United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) has signed a contract for the purchase of two vessels. Crowley is serving as the vessel acquisition manager (responsible for contract execution), and Stena RoRo is included in Crowley’s project team in the shipping and logistics company’s undertaking for MARAD. Stena RoRo has participated as market experts and brokers, as well as providing support in contract drafting. 

MARAD is purchasing two vessels from the American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group (ARC). The vessels will be joining the RRF fleet. More vessel purchases are expected to follow as the fleet is in need of rejuvenation.

Stena RoRo is assisting in the process of finding and selecting new vessels, serving as a broker and supporting the parties in drawing up contracts in conjunction with the purchase of vessels. Stena RoRo has extensive experience in markets that are relevant to MARAD’s very specific requirements.

“We are delighted to be assisting MARAD in strengthening the RRF fleet, and looking forward to participating in more vessel purchases within the framework of this collaborative arrangement,” says Ambjörn Fröjd, Commercial Project Manager, Stena RoRo.

STENA POLARIS

The product tanker Stena Polaris has a deadweight of 65,200 tonnes. The ship is rated for ice class 1A, which entails that it is equipped to sail in ice-covered waters. The hull is reinforced for ice and the ship has increased engine capacity and technically adapted
rudders and propellers. 

The ship has been built according to the MAX concept, which was developed by Stena and the French gas and oil company Total.
Compared to conventional MRI vessels, the P-MAX vessels are considerably wider and have dual engine compartments, propellers and rudders. Their breadth allows them to transport up to 30 percent more cargo, with the same draft, than equivalent vessels of the same size class. 

CONCORDIA MARITIME:

STENA POLARIS CHARTERED TO US MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

The tanker Stena Polaris is owned by Concordia Maritime and has been leased to Stena Bulk since 2021. The contract has been paused under the arrangement with Crowley, which as of January 2022 has had the ship on a bareboat charter basis. Crowley in turn, is leasing the ship with an American crew and sailing under the American flag to the US Military Sealift Command, part of the American armed forces. The vessel, which is rated for ice class 1A, will primarily transport fuel transport in the Mediterranean but also to American bases in Greenland and Antarctica.

The contract will be in effect for at least 12 months and a maximum of five years. The Stena Polaris was delivered to Crowley’s base in Jacksonville, Florida at the beginning of the year, where it has been modified to meet the special requirements of the American armed forces. Among other things, she has received equipment that allows bunkering while underway. 

“We are both proud and happy about this assignment,” says Erik Lewenhaupt, CEO of Concordia Maritime. “The contract with Crowley makes us suppliers to the US government and demonstrates the strength of the P-MAX concept in terms of safety and quality. It was also essential here that the ship can carry high cargo volumes in shallower waters.”