Traditional lunch and seminar in Athens
Some 100 invited guests participated in this year's Norwegian Hull Club Seminar and lunch at the Yacht Club of Greece, Athens, on Thursday October 21st. The traditional event, that is highly cherished by Norwegian Hull Club, was given a touch of snow and ice in the sunny Mikrolemano neighbourhood, as Mr. Stein Are Hansen came to prepare the audience for the upcoming winter season. A cooling box filled with ice from Folgefonna a few days earlier appeared on stage; cut out and airborne from the glacier by Mr. Hansen himself, and further brought through security check and on the plane from Bergen to Athens.
Ice - a wolf in a sheep's clothing?
After having shown what effort he is willing to make in order to illustrate his points, Mr. Hansen gave an in-depth lecture on the perils and challenges associated with navigation in ice, which not only caught the attention of the audience, but also offered some tangible suggestions on how to conquer these challenges. One may say that the many excellent photos of the beauty of ice formations in the arctic waters shown during the presentation maybe gave a false impression of the threats to ships represented by ice, but nobody went away from the presentation without a clear vision of what preparations are required to ensure a safe transit in icy waters. By explaining difficulties encountered by Arctic Cruise operators who constantly push the frontiers in order to have the most spectacular cruise, general Arctic trade conducted by shipping companies becomes a little easier. Having this knowledge makes all better prepared for worst case.
A gradual climate change
Also present was Norwegian Hull Club's Managing Director Mr. John H. Wiik who addressed the current status of the financial market and more specifically the current standing of the marine insurance industry. Said Mr. Wiik; "Norwegian Hull Club is doing fairly well in the present climate with acceptable financial results, mostly due to the absence of major losses. The capital-at-risk status has been strengthened during 2009 and so far in 2010 which provides for a sound economic base going forward."
The guests and other representatives from the hosts enjoyed an excellent lunch buffet and treatment by the Yacht Club of Greece after the seminar, and as a curiosity they were all offered 2000 years old Norwegian ice cubes in their drinks after lunch. We hope they were enjoyable!