Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins traveled in September with a delegation from Washington state on the Nordic Study and Trade Mission being led by Gov. Jay Inslee and the Washington Department of Commerce, the port announced Sept. 9.
The mission encompassed travel to Finland, Sweden, and Norway and included visits to the U.S. Embassies in Helsinki and Oslo, the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the KTH Royal Institute and the Wallenberg Wood Science Center in Stockholm, the Maritime Competence Center in Aalesund, Norway, and to Oceantech Innovation, Trondheim, which delves into technology aimed at supporting “offshore wind, aquaculture transport, and maritime industries,” according to the port.
“The Nordic Study and Trade Mission is intended to affirm, highlight, and expand upon the significant cultural, diplomatic, economic, industrial, political and policy ties between Washington State and the Nordic countries,” according to the announcement.
The port said that it was using the mission to look at ways to implement potential energy solutions and exploring maritime innovation projects.
“This trade mission supports the port’s effort to be the greenest and most energy efficient port in America,” the port said in a statement. “The mission provides an opportunity to learn from Nordic countries that have partnered with innovative cluster organizations to shift from fossil fuels to renewable resources.”