Nor-Shipping Crowd-Sourcing Sustainable Solutions

Nor-Shipping will work with key industry players and networks to identify unresolved industry issues and then use social media to engage young people to find solutions.

The initiative, Problem to Profit, marks another move against convention, says Nor-Shipping, tapping into fresh talent while building bridges between established players and future leaders.

“Shipping is a driver for world development and prosperity, but the industry faces mounting challenges and needs to develop a more sustainable path forwards,” explains Nor-Shipping Director Birgit Liodden. “This new concept will engage a broad spectrum of young people – from those already working in the industry to business entrepreneurs, students and those simply interested in sustainability – in a search for ideas and solutions that established shipping actors may not have considered.

“We believe this is an exciting opportunity for the industry to reach out beyond its traditional borders, mobilizing the potential of talented young individuals it wouldn’t otherwise be able to connect with. This is a unique opportunity for new ideas, across new platforms, and a new type of conversation. We’ll be working hard to realize its full potential.”

Nor-Shipping is anchoring the initiative in the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, utilizing them, and its next generation advisory network, to identify a number of relevant problem areas. Key industry figures will contribute to videos on the issues, to be posted on the Nor-Shipping website and YouTube. Educational institutions and young people from the industry and beyond (including those from the fields of tech, finance and communication) will then be invited to participate in sharing solutions, submitting videos of their ideas.

The best submissions will be shared through Nor-Shipping’s online channels, with standout contributors invited to the event’s Ocean Opportunity Talks in Oslo. Five individuals will be invited to participate in Ocean Opportunity Pitch Sessions during Nor-Shipping week, competing for cash prize, mentors and summer internships.