Every year, at the end of the summer, Kristiansand is welcoming the Norwegian port and shipping sector for a dedicated port Conference. Also, this year, ESPO has been participating actively in the Conference and met with Atle Johannessen, CEO of the Port of Kristiansand since 2023. In the following sections, you will read more about the first year of Atle as a CEO, how the port is doing, what his plans are for the port and much more.
Discover all the fascinating topics addressed by our port professional of the month below! Can you briefly tell us about the Port of Kristiansand, highlighting its key features and current challenges? The Port of Kristiansand is owned by two municipalities, Kristiansand and Lindesnes. This means that we have port facilities covering a large part of the south coast of Norway. The Port of Kristiansand is the regional logistics hub and serves a large number of industries, including offshore supply and process industries.
Atle Johannessen, CEO of the Port of Kristiansand. In 2023 we had 1.4 million passengers crossing our ferry terminal and almost 500’000 tons of cargo shipped with the same ferries.
Our cruise terminal welcomed 350,000 guests across 137 ships. Our container terminal handled 42 000 TEUs, which is less than normal. The Port of Kristiansand was the first port in Europe that provided low and high voltage shore power, and we are continuing to develop the green energy available for our customers.
In addition to this, we are now in a process of moving our container terminal from the city centre to a new, modern and digitalised area. We believe that this terminal will be a great development for our region and for Europe. We are proud to be the gateway from Norway to Europe.
Is there a long-term strategy for the Port of Kristiansand? What are the main investment projects for the next few years? Can you briefly describe the importance of these projects for both the port and the city? Our vison is to become the most accessible port in Norway, with a commitment to prioritising our customers’ needs in our ongoing development. A port is a critical infrastructure, and if we are not focused on what the maritime industry needs and ensure that producers and industry choose the seaway, then we will not succeed with sustainable and efficient logistics corridors at sea across Europe and globally. Our facilities in Lindesnes municipality are part of a big strategic plan for new industries offshore.
The container terminal moving away from the city centre gives us a better way to handle goods, containers and bulk in a more efficient and digital way. We know that ports are given new tasks by the EU, and we wish to be ahead of them by striving to be a net-zero port as soon as possible. The geopolitical situation is affecting us, just like all other ports in Europe.
Preparedness and security of supply have taken on new significance and need to be addressed in our strategy. Port of Kristiansand. The Port of Kristiansand is “strategically located with Denmark and the European continent a short crossing way”, as stated on your website.
Could you elaborate more on how does this strategic location of the Port benefit businesses and shipping operations? Our strategic location has given us the opportunity to be the gateway to Europe. Kristiansand and our region Agder have been exporting since the beginning of time, and we continue to do so. Fisheries, wood products, bulk and general goods are traveling across our quayside every day.
Agder has been the home of global supply actors like MacGregor, National Oilwell Varco and HMH. In addition, we have large process industries like Elkem, GE Healthcare and Glencore that are based close to the port of Kristiansand. The transition towards a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 has a direct effect on our business models, and we are excited to be part of this change.
New offshore industries are developing, and of course offshore wind will be part of our future, and the collaboration between Kristiansand and Hirtshals provides us added value in these aspects. For regional companies, Europe is not far away – it is our close neighbour. Port of Kristiansand.
With regards to the traditional Port Conference that the Port of Kristiansand hosts annually, you have been opening up the Conference by adding a more international part. Why is it important for you? The Global Port Conference was held for the 12th time this year. We have seen that bringing the maritime value chain together for two days leads to valuable solutions.
We can collectively ask questions on higher levels; share communication and knowledge, and engage directly with decision-makers. The world is getting smaller, and we are more co-dependent than ever before. The current geopolitical situation requires closer dialogue, and for it to have a meaningful impact, international relations must strengthen across a broad spectrum.
Renewable energy, increased use of the seaway and greater use of the TEN- – Network across Europe makes this meeting a valuable opportunity to create the right sense of urgency. Norwegian actors will learn more about Europe, and Europe will know more about us. This means that we can improve on building the safe, efficient and modern infrastructure for the future.
In this same line, what would you highlight as the main takeaways in each of the four parts of the Global Port Conference, including port development, cargo owners’ focus, shipping companies’ requirements, and the Global Outlook with international guests? Port of Kristiansand. The first session is sharing the shipping owners’ point of view. The key takeaway from this session was that we need to do more of everything.
New ships must be commissioned, old ships must be redeveloped and operated to minimize energy consumption, and efficiency and sustainability must be prioritised. Collaboration is key, but infrastructure is lagging behind. Session two belonged to the cargo owners, and this year we had three very different companies on stage.
Preparedness, security of supply and sustainability were topics on top of their agenda. The use of the seaway is an important and strategic move for the future, offering greater efficiency, safety and sustainability. Session three – port development.
Ports are critical infrastructure that are required to do more with less. Across Europe, we see that ports have a lack of commercial areas to develop, tasks are increasing in size and number. We do not have the luxury of time to develop the infrastructure needed for future.
This is a European and global problem. We finished with a global outlook, noting that this year has been darker than before. We have war in Europe and conflicts across the world that directly affect transport lines at sea.
We are more digital than ever, but this also means that we are more vulnerable. The future is now, and the work should have started yesterday. Together we might get there just in time.
European ports are increasingly investing in digital solutions to improve the efficiency of the logistics chain and port operations. Has the Port of Kristiansand taken any initiatives towards digitalisation? Atle Johannessen, Isabelle Ryckbost, Ansis Zeltins, and Isabelle-Louise Aabel at the Global Port Conference in Kristiansand (Norway). Digitalisation is key, and we are working closely with our operators and customers to make their everyday life as easy and efficient as possible.
In our ferry terminal we are working with sensors and IoT solutions to make travellers’ experience quick and sustainable. Our new container terminal will be rigged for future technologies like remote operation, automation and digital value chains. Our hope is that we can be able to create a digital one-stop-shop for customers to book all their needs when they plan their port visit.
We try our best to be one step ahead. As explained in your website the “Kristiansand Havn IKS will be a future-oriented port”. Please could you further elaborate on how the port will contribute to the transformation of energy and transport systems while ensuring emission-free transport chains? As the main infrastructure for logistics and maritime interests we have the social responsibility to push the industry into the right direction.
We have advanced waste management systems, provide both high- and low-voltage shore power to all ships coming to dock, we are looking towards hydrogen and other renewable fuels, and from 2026 all cruise ships coming to Kristiansand will be connected to shore power. We are leading by example and have electrified much of our equipment and cars. This is a long-term process, but we are actively moving ourselves and the industry towards net-zero to become an accessible, sustainable and efficient port.
The greening of a port requires the help of all port stakeholders. In this sense, how can the Port of Kristiansand encourage all stakeholders to make their operations more sustainable in order to achieve a greener port? Collaboration, open dialogues and a common communication towards decision-makers are essential. With this in mind, we ask ourselves what will be the short-term and long-term needs and where will the bigger investments need to arise? We believe that the answers will be found by bringing the complete value chain in the maritime sector together.
But we also acknowledge that today one can only make educated guesses about what the future will look like, and work towards the common goal of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. What environmental issues are considered a priority for the Port of Kristiansand? Environmental issues are definitely on top of our agenda. Looking out the window and seeing the broad activity ongoing in the port, it’s clear that environment must be a huge part of our everyday and long-term planning.
Digitalisation, electrification and renewable energy are outlined in our strategy. Port collaboration is addressing this on a higher level, and meets national needs. But we must also acknowledge that being part of the critical infrastructure in an increasingly uncertain world, preparedness and security of supply are equally important.
We need to be able to ensure it both, for you, for me, and for Europe’s population. Could you explain how you began your career in maritime transport and the professional journey that led you to your current position? My family and I come from the island of Sotra outside Bergen. My ancestors have been involved in fishing and fisheries for several generations, and I was introduced early to the opportunities and challenges of the sea, as well as the importance of taking care of our common seafood reserve and food supply.
During my economic studies, I worked one summer for Simpson Spence & Young Ltd. in London, which sparked my interest in shipping. When I finished university, I got my first job as a forwarder at J.
Martens AS in Bergen, where I quickly developed and held several leadership positions within their freight forwarding business until they were acquired by K + N in 2009. Later, I served as managing director for several companies within the Greencarrier family. Most recently, I worked as a director for JAS Worldwide Norway AS and Greenport Services AS (container terminal operator).
I was also a member of the board in Port of Kristiansand for 7 years before being offered the role of CEO and Director of the Port of Kristiansand, the Gateway to Europe. Lastly, if you had to bring us to your favourite spot in the Port of Kristiansand, where would you take us? Choosing a favourite place is difficult. There are many places that are exciting and interesting, several of which have historical significance and highlight the importance of the maritime industry for the development of Kristiansand as a city.
Regardless, as Port Director I can’t overlook the “maritime operations centre,” which controls all inbound and outbound traffic to the Port of Kristiansand and monitors all the activity in all our port areas. It is open 24/7 365 and is the heart of our operations. But following my heart, my favourite spot will be at the tip of Lagmannsholmen, with the view of nothing but sea in front of me with endless opportunities for the future as I hear the port operations happening behind me.
Source: ESPO.
