- "It's fantastic to be here in Seattle and receive Norway's most beautiful ship," said Anniken Huitfeldt, Norway's ambassador to the USA.
Statsraad Lehmkuhl left Bergen in April, and this week the sailing ship arrived in Seattle for the very first time. The One Ocean Expedition is a year-long journey across many of the world's oceans, and it was extra special when the ship arrived in Bergen's sister city on the American west coast.
A number of leaders and politicians from Seattle were present in the gray Bergen weather. There was also a delegation from Bergen of 35 people from business, government and academia. Bergen Chamber of Commerce & Industry made sure to hand out Norwegian flags to everyone.
Washington Maritime Blue ready for One Ocean Week
- "We've been waiting for 194 days since we waved goodbye to Statsraad Lehmkuhl in Bergen. It's a great experience to receive the ship here in Seattle, and it means a lot that so many have traveled from Bergen to be with us on this," said Joshua Berger, CEO of Washington Maritime Blue.
It is this business cluster that organizes One Ocean Week Seattle, following the model of One Ocean Week in Bergen.
- We would like to welcome Statsraad Lehmkuhl to the state of Washington, not "the other Washington". Here, businesses, governments and academia are working together for the green shift, greatly inspired by what you are achieving in Bergen and Vestland. When international relations are demanding, it is all the more important to strengthen cooperation between cities. This is a great example of just that," said Dan Strauss, Seattle City Councilor.
One Ocean Week Seattle is well underway, and on Thursday Bergen Chamber of Commerce & Industry welcomes you to a series of meetings and debates on board, together with partners Corvus Energy, Kongsberg Discovery, Norwegian Electrical Systems and Havila Kystruten.
- You represent world-leading technology, and with us you will find a market," said Dan Strauss.
Statsraad Lehmkuhl arrived from the Canadian city of Vancouver and sailed on to San Francisco after five days. The ship will return to Bergen on April 18, for the opening of One Ocean Week in Bergen on April 18.
Text: Espen Børhaug, Bergen Chamber of Commerce & Industry
