Nor-Shipping 2009 opened on June 9th to its greatest first day ever, with 22 per cent more visitors and 26 per cent more exhibitors walking through the gates than the exhibition’s first day in 2007.

Attention from Norwegian and international media has been tremendous, and many speculated how the ongoing recession would impact Nor-Shipping. Attendance at Nor-Shipping 2009’s second day was also well over earlier records, and organisers feel like this year’s event is and will be a great success. Attendance over the first two days of Nor-Shipping 2009 was 19 per cent higher in terms of visitor delegates, and 10 per cent in terms of exhibitor representatives, than in 2007.

"We believed that the market downturn would lead the maritime industry to think again how it reaches out to the market," said Tollef Schiander, Director for Nor-Shipping. "Companies concentrate their resources on those activities and marketplaces that get results. This year’s Nor-Shipping has been more popular than ever. In a time of crisis, the market has come here to rally."

Nor-Shipping 2009 is the largest in the event’s 40+ year history. 1105 exhibitors from 51 countries have filled the six halls of Norway Trade Fairs in Lillestrøm, Norway. By comparison, Nor-Shipping 2007, which took place in the midst of a market boom, had 830 exhibitors from 42 countries.

The Leading Voices conference that opened Nor-Shipping 2009 on Tuesday, 9 June got the show off to a trend-setting start. Attended by Norway’s King, Harald V, the conference featured leaders of global stature, including IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos, RCCL Chairman and CEO Richard Fain and Wilh. Wilhelmsen CEO Ingar Skaug, discussing shipping’s role in the fight against climate change. In round-table discussions led by CNN’s Todd Benjamin, the 300+ shipping professionals in the audience followed lively debate about the industry’s, and regulators’, efforts to make a difference.

Tags: Nor-Shipping 2009