Norsepower’s Tuomas Riski wins Nor-Shipping’s Young Entrepreneur Award
Tuomas Riski, CEO of Norsepower, has today been announced as the winner of Nor-Shipping’s coveted Young Entrepreneur Award 2017. The 38 year-old Finn was chosen from a final shortlist that included Joel Spark, Co-Founder of Spire, Xeneta CEO Patrik Berglund, and Christine Spiten, Co-Founder of Blueye Robotics.
The Nor-Shipping Young Entrepreneur Award is a joint initiative with YoungShip that focuses on innovators – all of whom must be under 40 – that are working to address critical industry issues. As such, Riski fits the bill perfectly, leading a company that has developed a spinning wind-powered cylinder (a Flettner rotor) to harness wind energy and propel ships. The solution, suitable for both newbuilds and retrofitting, has the potential to deliver fuel and emissions savings of up to 20% in favourable wind conditions.
Commenting on the award, Nor-Shipping Director Birgit Liodden said: “Tuomas and Norsepower encapsulate the very essence of this award.”
“Their technology is a potential game-changer for an industry facing increasing cost and environmental constraints. It ranks as the first proven commercially available auxiliary propulsion system that can harness natural wind power in this way. As such it has the potential to not only drive forward single vessels, but also our entire industry’s sustainability credentials.”
“Tuomas is, without doubt, a very worthy winner. We expect to hear a lot more about Norsepower in the years to come.”
Speaking of this year’s competing nominees, and the eventual winner, Richard Hayfield, Secretary General of YoungShip, notes: “Picking a winner from so many strong candidates was an arduous task. This year we had some amazing shortlisted contenders, who I am sure will all go on to achieve great things in our industry.”
“After much deliberation, we chose a winner that showed a true entrepreneurial spirit, inventiveness, and drive to succeed. The jury unanimously agreed Tuomas Riski should take this year’s award.”
“Tuomas deserves special praise for utilising the Flettner technology concept, which is not new, but its successful commercialisation certainly is. Norsepower has shown both ingenuity and determination to refine the solution, build confidence and understanding of it in the notoriously tough shipping market, and finally combine both public and private finance to realise its potential. “
“We the jury believe Tuomas is a role model for current and future generations within the maritime industry, and a deserving recipient of the Young Entrepreneur Award 2017.”
H.R.H Crown Prince Haakon of the Norwegian Royal Family will present the award in a special presentation at Nor-Shipping’s Opening Conference in Lillestrøm on 30 May. The winners of NorShipping’s Energy Efficiency Award and Next Generation Ship Award will also be announced on the day.