The Port of Bergen celebrated its 290th anniversary this week. By 2026, all ships in the port will be connected to shore power. "It is the political environment in Bergen that has set the requirements and this makes us a world leader today," said CEO Michal Forland from the stage.
On Monday, November 3, the Port of Bergen hosted a celebration of 290 years. The port, which was established by royal decree in 1735, has been an important hub for the distribution of stockfish to the continent. Cooperation with the Hanseatic League helped to shape Bergen as a trading city at a time when Bergen was one of the most important trading cities in the Nordic region and at one point the largest. Although the port is geared towards the future and the green shift, its history is important to the city.
Representatives from the Royal Norwegian Navy, Bergen Municipality's political leadership and a number of invited guests attended the ceremony. Kristina Hansen, State Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, opened the event. She highlighted the historical lines and the port's ambitions for the future.
- Europe needed the fish, but it was too far to transport it directly from Northern Norway to the continent. And Bergen was perfectly placed as a transshipment station. So Bergen became the Hanseatic League's northernmost outpost," says Hansen. The Port of Bergen is still ambitious and forward-looking. The port's ambition is to be emission-free by 2030 and to be one of Europe's leaders when it comes to climate and the environment. The Port of Bergen has shown that this is possible," said the State Secretary.
A central role
the governing mayor Christine Meyer also attended the celebration.
- "The Port of Bergen plays a central role, not only for the city, but also for the whole of Western Norway and Norway," said the governing mayor Christine Meyer from the stage. "We in Bergen are very proud of the Port of Bergen's role in the world when it comes to green transition," she added.
CEO Michal Forland emphasized from the stage that the Port of Bergen continues to leave no stone unturned in its efforts to reach the zero emission target.
- "We require that ships calling at the port must be able to use shore power. We set the same requirements for ourselves as we do for the shipping companies, and our goal is for almost all ships in the port to use shore power by 2026," said Forland.
Watch the anniversary film for the Port of Bergen below:
See a copy of the original "Avskrift af Bergens havneprotokoll" from 1735 below:
