Source: Vestland County Council / Helen Daae Frøyseth
The sailing ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl has been awarded the Vestland County Council’s 2026 Climate and Environment Award. For over 100 years, the ship has been a central part of Bergen’s cityscape and is today one of Norway’s most prominent ambassadors for a clean and rich ocean.
– The ocean is the largest classroom we have, and the Statsraad Lehmkuhlis the finest training ship in the world. When researchers, children, and decision-makers from around the world come together on board, something happens that no report or conference can replace. That is exactly the kind of action we need more of,” says Nils-Anders Nøttseter (MDG), chair of the award’s selection committee.
The award ceremony took place during the county council meeting in Norheimsund on June 17.
Built in 1914 as the world’s first training ship with a diesel engine, the Statsraad Lehmkuhl has survived wars and major social changes, trained thousands of seafarers, and continually adapted to the times. With a battery installed in 2019, the ship became the most environmentally friendly in its class. Today, it serves as a floating platform for education, research, and international cooperation during the UN Decade of Ocean Science.
An Important International Ambassador
The Vestland County Council Climate and Environment Award is intended to honor individuals, teams, organizations, and businesses that have distinguished themselves in climate and environmental work, or that have demonstrated a strong commitment over time. The goal is to inspire and promote climate and environmental efforts in the county and to encourage further action.
The explanatory memorandum states, among other things, that the Statsraad Lehmkuhl has brought the ocean to the forefront through the One Ocean Expedition 2025–2026 around the world. From public events at the docks in Bergen, where children and young people get up close to the ocean, to international sailing expeditions where researchers and participants from around the world collaborate to understand and protect the ocean.
The Selection Committee particularly highlights the ship’s role as an international ambassador for Western Norway and Norway. The Committee has also emphasized the interdisciplinary research collaboration that provides a better understanding of how the ocean is affected by microplastics, climate change, and human activity.
“The Statsraad Lehmkuhl represents a rare synergy between history, expertise, and forward-looking action. The ship demonstrates in a credible and action-oriented way that a thriving ocean is a prerequisite for sustainable development,” says Nøttseter.
A binding price
A surprised, proud, and happy award winner was on hand in Norheimsund to accept the award.
– It was very unexpected—and all the more wonderful—to learn that the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Sailing Ship Foundation has been awarded this year’s Climate and Environment Prize. For nearly ten years, we have used our proud sailing ship to raise awareness of the ocean’s vital role in a sustainable future. It’s incredibly exciting for everyone at the foundation that our work is being recognized in our region.
"This award commits us and our supporters to ensuring that the ship receives the necessary maintenance in the coming years, so that it can continue to sail safely on and for the sea for at least another 100 years," says Haakon Vatle, director of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Sailing Ship Foundation.
Past Award Winners
The Climate and Environment Award is presented once a year. The following individuals have received the award in the past:
2025:Gripen Gard and Rural Time Travel / Hagebonden
2024:Solstrand Hotel and Baths
2023:Upscale AS
2022:Osvassdraget Management Association and Mjåtveitelva Association
2021:Invertapro AS
2020:Port of Bergen
The Climate Prize consists of 70,000 kr, as well as a bouquet and a certificate.
