Insights into the maritime industry

Annet Koster and Louis Stolper spoke today in The Hague with Member of Parliament Habtamu de Hoop of GroenLinks-PvdA. De Hoop is the spokesperson within his faction for all maritime topics and is therefore involved in many debates relevant to the maritime industry.

Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) visited Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe, yesterday and today at the invitation of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The KVNR was involved as a co-organizer of today's program for this high maritime visit. The focus was on making shipping more sustainable and investing in the skills of seafarers.

In 2025, the five prestigious Maritime Awards will be presented again. These awards celebrate innovation, progress, and impact within the Dutch maritime sector. Shipowners, shipyards, suppliers, students, researchers, and designers have the opportunity to showcase their achievements and innovations.

Yesterday, we were pleased to welcome nearly 300 guests to the KVNR's New Year's reception. A great and diverse turnout! The reception was opened by Annet Koster with the above words and a brief reflection on the bizarre times we find ourselves in today. After this, guest speaker and brand-new chairman of NML, Bas Buchner, took the floor.

This week was the last time this year that the ECSA board, chaired by Karin Orsel, met in Brussels.

Karin Orsel wins the IMO Gender Equality Award 2025 for her dedication to diversity in the maritime sector. An inspiring role model and proud pioneer!

Last week, the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners' (KVNR) board's annual working visit to Brussels took place. Over two days, the board spoke to various European stakeholders to highlight the importance of the shipping industry to the European economy.

Last September, I exchanged the beautiful city of Groningen for the heart of the European Union: Brussels. Luckily, I quickly found a cozy room just a five-minute walk from the European Parliament. The day after my move, I began my internship at the Royal Association of Dutch Shipowners (KVNR). At the KVNR, I collaborate with a team of experts, each with their own specializations, united by a common goal: to effectively represent the interests of the Dutch shipping industry.

Theo Klimp of shipping company Royal Wagenborg was today appointed new chairman of the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR). During the general meeting of the shipowners' association in the Maas building of football stadium De Kuip, the man from Groningen took over the gavel from outgoing chairman Jan Valkier (shipping company Anthony Veder).