Photo credit: Swedish Shipowners´ Association

The joint shipping venture Wallenius SOL, between the two well-known Swedish shipping companies Wallenius Lines and Svenska Orient Linien, SOL, has received the award Shipping Company of the Year by the Swedish Shipowners’ Association for its innovative and sustainable contributions to the Swedish merchant fleet.

The award is given to the “shipping company that has made an important contribution to the Swedish merchant fleet and realising the vision of successful Swedish shipping for a sustainable world,” as said in the company´s statement.

The relatively new shipping company with only Swedish-flagged vessels and 100% employee ambassadors on board, started as a joint venture, between two Swedish shipping companies.

The award to the joint venture was presented at the Swedish Maritime Shipowners’ Association annual general meeting on 27 April. The jury included Mark Levengood, journalist, author and presenter, Jenni Ranhagen, CEO of the Swedish Shippers’ Council, Claes Berglund, Chairman of the Swedish Shipowners’ Association, and Anders Hermansson, CEO of the Swedish Shipholders’ Association.

Within the framework of Wallenius SOL, a new logistics solution has been developed using Swedish-flagged vessels only. The jury’s justification for the award was that “the new logistics solution was developed in close cooperation with transport buyers and based on the wishes and needs of customers. WALLENIUS SOL has also initiated a long-term investment in all sustainability perspectives, and cares for its employees.”

As it is furthermore said in the justification the company has invested no less than €150 million in two state-of-the-art ConRo vessels.

“With the world’s largest ice-rated multi-fuel ConRo vessels leading the way – the Baltic Enabler and Botnia Enabler – WALLENIUS SOL enables sustainable infrastructure at sea in the Gulf of Bothnia and contributes to the green industrial development currently under way in northern Sweden and ensures open seaways down to the continent.”

From his side Anders Boman, Chairman of the Board of Wallenius SOL said that due to the willingness to invest in sustainable solutions, they have shown that partnerships are crucial to a green transition in shipping.

In addition to the award for Shipping Company of the Year, an honorable mention was also awarded to the shipping company Wasaline, which recently became a member of the Swedish Shipowners’ Association, for their major investments in the area of sustainability.