The company now has over 100 low- and zero-emission vessels on its reference list, which collectively represent an energy capacity of approximately 230 MWh, including charging facilities.
"Our reference list is not just a number, but proof that the maritime shift from fossil to electric power is real and has seen exponential growth in recent years. This has been made possible thanks to a unique interplay between political instruments, forward-thinking ship owners, and an entire value chain that has focused on important competence developments over the last decade," Mortvedt continues.
According to the CEO, the last ten years have shown a very positive development in the green shift.
"The costs of renewable energy have fallen, investments in electrification and climate technology have accelerated, and the maritime sector has rapidly moved in a green direction. The world has never had better technological conditions for cutting emissions," he says.
SEAM's own success is rooted in investment in specialist competence, an effective combination of maritime knowledge and technical expertise, and the development of proprietary products. However, outside forces also play an important role.
"We have a world-class maritime cluster, technology environments that already deliver solutions to ship owners worldwide, and a public sector that can use procurement processes to drive new solutions. We have everything necessary to make green shipping a central part of Norwegian export and value creation," Mortvedt states.
He maintains that the government's requirements and support schemes have created the necessary domestic market and laid the foundation for what he calls a critical laboratory for developing and testing zero-emission solutions at full scale.
"At the same time, Norwegian ship owners have dared to invest in new technology long before it was an absolute legal requirement. This, combined with the massive competence boost in the industry over the last ten years, has made the technology scalable and reliable."
A significant portion of this success can be traced directly back to the forward-thinking ship owning communities in Haugalandet and Sunnhordland, where the willingness to invest has been crucial for validating SEAM's technology. Local ship owners have actively led the way, proving that zero- and low-emission solutions are commercially and operationally viable for a wide range of vessel segments.
"Østensjø Rederi's new construction vessel is currently under construction. It is designed to operate across a wide range of offshore energy segments, including IMR, construction, job-to-job services, and cable laying. SEAM has been chosen as the system integrator, contributing to the delivery and seamless integration of the vessel's advanced systems, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. Furthermore, Edda Wind has heavily invested in environmentally friendly service solutions for offshore wind, while Hagland Shipping has taken a clear environmental position in the bulk segment with its series of hybrid newbuilds. Arriva Shipping has recently invested in several new hybrid bulk carriers, Eidesvik Offshore has been a historical pioneer in battery technology in the offshore segment, while Solstad Offshore has conducted extensive rebuilds to integrate hybrid systems and cut fuel consumption," says Mortvedt.
He also mentions USV AS, a partnership between Solstad Offshore, Østensjø Rederi, and DeepOcean, which has been central specifically for the implementation and further development of autonomous and remote-controlled vessels powered by advanced electrical systems.
The 100+ projects featuring SEAM technology have created significant ripple effects that extend far beyond reduced operating costs and emissions.
"The competence development that has followed these projects gives the Norwegian maritime value chain a unique competitive advantage abroad, which in turn contributes to strengthening Norway's position as a world leader in green maritime technology," Gunvald Mortvedt asserts.
SEAM has hired many new employees over the last four years and currently counts 170 staff members. Including the acquisition of Austevoll Elektro, the total is 250 employees.
"This should be clear proof that the green shift is creating new, highly qualified jobs," Mortvedt smiles.
And then there are the reduced emissions. The most important factor, many ould argue. "We estimate that these 100+ vessels have reduced CO2 emissions by over 300,000 tonnes since 2015."
With approximately 230 MWh of installed capacity so far, SEAM is now ready to take this Norwegian industrial adventure further.
"Our focus is now shifting towards international growth to make Norwegian-produced zero-emission technology the global standard. At the same time, this commitment solidifies SEAM's, and I would also say Norway's, leadership in the green future at sea," Gunvald Mortvedt concludes.
