The Norwegian Training Center (NTC) celebrated its 35th anniversary in the Philippines on April 24 at the Peninsula Manila Hotel. This event marked three and a half decades of NTC's commitment to maritime training excellence, during which it has trained thousands of maritime professionals and contributed significantly to the industry's growth and development.

The Norwegian Training Center is a pioneer in providing simulators and specialized courses to the maritime industry. NTC takes pride in managing the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association’s Cadet Program, which to date has had more than 8,000 students enrolled. More than 6,000 of these have graduated and are sailing as world-class seafarers.

In celebration of its anniversary, the NTC organized a one-day conference dedicated to exploring the future trajectory of the maritime industry and addressing the challenges ahead. The event brought together a distinguished panel of speakers, including esteemed academics and prominent public sector leaders, who shared their valuable insights on the evolving landscape of shipping and maritime.

“Never has it been more important to cooperate across the seas to ensure a safe and secure maritime transportation industry. The Philippines and Norway play a crucial and vital role in this work, and the Norwegian Training Center, as a subsidiary of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, will continuously strive to be a world leader of maritime competence and excellence coming out of the Philippines,” said NTC Managing Director Captain Joe Even Tomren.

NTC started its seminar with important discussions on the impact of escalating geopolitical tensions worldwide. Recognizing the maritime sector’s reliance on the uninterrupted flow of global trade, the seminar highlighted the potential disruptions to the shipping routes, which could lead to increased costs and significant effects on global food security and supply chains.

The Norwegian Training Center invited Gjermund Eide, former military adviser to the Secretary-General NATO and Professor Charmaine Willoughby, chair of the Department of International Studies of the De la Salle University Manila, to focus on the implications of the growing geopolitical tension in the region, to the industry and a much larger scale of the global economy.

The reaction panel was joined by Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA) president Harald Fotland, and Stratbase Group Managing Director Victor Andres Manhit.

“The Philippines and Norway have had a close and strong partnership within the maritime industry for decades. We are proud to celebrate the 35th anniversary of our presence in the Philippines, marked by a state-of-the-art training center and one of the best cadet programs in Asia,” said Fotland.

"Filipino seafarers make up nearly 65 percent of the crew in the Norwegian international fleet, and it goes without saying that close and good relations between our countries are of great importance.

The world today is marked by turbulent times with multiple wars, conflicts, and trade wars. In times like these, it is important to maintain a close and strong dialogue between friends,” Fotland added.

According to a report by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), around 80 percent of world trade volume is carried by sea. The maritime sector is very much dependent on the open flow of the global trade around the world. It is a cornerstone of the global economy, and disruptions and strains in the shipping routes would entail rising costs and impacts on global food security and supply.

The second part of the program focused on the future of the maritime industry as a sector, its technological advancements over the years, and the changing demands for the capabilities of the people who are manning the ships.

The discussion was led by Philippine Transmarine Carriers (PTC) Group of Companies CEO Gerardo Borromeo, joined by panelists World Maritime University President Maximo Mejia Jr., Bergen Shipowners’ Association President and Grieg Maritime Group CEO Matthew Duke, OSM Thome Chief Crew Management Officer Julia Anastasiou, and NTC Chief Executive Officer Captain Jo Even Tomren.

The shipping sector is confronted with challenges like climate change, necessitating a reduction in CO2 emissions by at least 40 percent by 2030, as outlined in the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) strategy.

Technological advancements for green solutions and increased digitalization on ships drive a new demand for maritime expertise in the future.

“The maritime sector is one of the cornerstones of the bilateral relationship between Norway and the Philippines. For 35 years, the Norwegian Training Center has been an important part of this maritime relationship. The maritime sector is important for both our countries, and we will continue to work with the Philippines and the maritime industry to promote, develop, and safeguard maritime interests,” concluded Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster of the Embassy of Norway.