Statsraad Lehmkuhl at the quay in Los Angeles. Photo Malin Kvamme.
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Ole Reinert Berg-Olsen
Statsraad Lehmkuhl and the One Ocean Expedition left Los Angeles and are now in Vancouver. Here, the public will have the opportunity to visit the ship, which is open to locals. The ship has already received attention in local media and is sailing this week towards Seattle and an American edition of One Ocean Week.
After a rerouting due to too much ice in the Northwest Passage, Statsraad Lehmkuhl sailed via the Bermuda Triangle and then through the Panama Canal for the very first time. Here you can see the passage in fast motion. With only 36 people on board, they sailed from Bermuda, via Panama and covered 4,700 nautical miles.
In Los Angeles, the crew was welcomed by Norway's Honorary Consul and representatives from the Norwegian Seamen's Church. After four weeks at sea, they used the time to prepare for the onward leg to Vancouver.
Statsraad lehmkuhl at the quay in Vancouver. Photo: Malin Kvamme
In Vancouver, the ship has received attention in the local media. CTV News featured the One Ocean Expedition this weekend, where Statsraad Lehmkuhl invited locals to an open ship. Captain Marcus Seidl explained to the news channel that the research from the previous expedition showed discouraging results.
-"We're basically testing the health of the ocean," said Seidl.
On a previous circumnavigation, the ship's instruments confirmed that microplastics are found everywhere in the world's oceans - no matter how remote the area, he added.
Although the research results can be depressing, he said the job is exciting and "idealistic", and that he gets hope from seeing the increased awareness of the challenges affecting the health of the world's oceans.
One Ocean Week in Seattle
When the expedition arrived on the US coast, they saw a rocket launch. Now they are heading for Seattle. Photo: Malin Kvamme
The ship is now docked in California, and later this week, One Ocean Week will take place in Seattle from April 22-27. Read more about this on the Washington Maritime Blue website.
- The trip to Seattle is important for Bergen. Our goal of organizing the Ocean Decade conference in 2030 requires networking, good international contacts and cooperation. Here we get to show that the Ocean City of Bergen is united in the world. We've received positive signals from both the UN and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," says County Mayor and Chairman of One Ocean, Jon Askeland.
An international university
The mayor and county mayor will be joined on the trip by the rector of the University of Bergen, Margareth Hagen.
Among other things, UiB invites to the event The Vast and Deep Ocean together with Statsraad Lehmkuhl and the University of Washington, where researchers explore how modern technology and international cooperation are uncovering the hidden world of the ocean - from biodiversity and geological formations to mapping the seabed.
Rector at UIB, Margareth Hagen. Photo: UiB
-"The University of Bergen is an international university, and our commitment and leadership role for ocean sustainability underlines not only that we are a leading ocean university, but also our global advocacy role to contribute with research, education and knowledge about marine life and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. One Ocean Week in Seattle helps to connect Bergen and Seattle as sister cities, and it is important for us to meet our good partners at the University of Washington," says UiB Rector Margareth Hagen.
In addition to The City of Bergen, Vestland County Council and the University of Bergen, the Institute of Marine Research will also participate in the delegation trip, along with a number of companies from Western Norway.
After One Ocean Week in Seattle, it's time for SOS Voyage. This leg runs from San Francisco to San Diego under the auspices of One Ocean partner Farvatn.
As part of the Sustainable Ocean Solutions Voyage 2025, the organizers are offering participants the opportunity to expand their professional network, experience collaboration in a whole new way and gain practical knowledge from life at sea. The voyage combines professional development with both the beauty and challenges of ocean travel. The trip runs from San Francisco to San Diego.
