Oceans of opportunity

Sustainability is at the heart of everything KONGSBERG does. The planet is the most precious resource we have and we need to do everything we can to protect it.

Through innovation, collaboration with our partners and investment, we can create commercial opportunities as well as build a better future for all.

We are fully committed to the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015. These are a universal call to action to protect the planet, end poverty and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

Maintaining the health of the oceans is critical both to the planet and to KONGSBERG. Protecting the seas also helps to solve our global sustainability challenges. Some 70 per cent of the world’s surface is made up of water, and more than 80 per cent of the company’s business is in some way connected to ocean activity.This means that the need to achieve sustainable development within the industries in which we work has never been greater. The UN sustainable development goals includes one that is of particular importance to KONGSBERG; SDG 14, named Life Below Water and targeted at conserving and sustainably using the oceans, sea and marine resources.

Nurturing a healthy marine environment is of huge commercial importance. Taken overall, the ocean is valued at more than $24 trillion and generates £2.5 trillion annually. Of this amount, 70 per cent depends on a healthy marine environment. Existing and planned maritime technology will be a crucial part of maintaining this buoyant ocean-based economy.A wide variety of technology has been developed by KONGSBERG to help meet the challenges of ocean sustainability, including such innovations as satellite detection to locate oil spills in the ocean and systems that can detect illegal fishing. Another successful project example is Hugin, an autonomous underwater vehicle used for mapping the seabed.

KONGSBERG is also creating the world’s first electric, autonomous and zero emission container ship, the Yara Birkeland. This will operate on a sea route between the ports of Brevik, Herøya and Larvik in southern Norway and will replace the equivalent of 40,000 truckloads per year from roads in populated areas.The potential of the technologies deployed by KONGSBERG and others appears almost limitless. At present, only 2 per cent of the food we consume comes from the ocean, while some 90 per cent of the world’s biomass is found there.

By deploying our expertise, dynamism, knowledge and innovative skills, we can help to ensure that the future of the global marine environment is a sustainable and economically productive one.

Read more about sustainability at: https://www.kongsberg.com/maritime/campaign/sustainability/