Grieg Logistics

Grieg Logistics is an international provider of ships services, advanced digital systems, and industrial terminal operations in Norway and other countries. They operate within energy, shipping, maritime and general industries.

STIG TRYGVE ANDERSEN CEO, GRIEG LOGISTICS

In 2021, several changes had an impact on our company. First, Michelle Williams stepped down as CEO in August to pursue other challenges outside the Grieg Group, and I was lucky enough to take over the vital role of CEO of Grieg Logistics.

We have made some strategic changes in our company. To maintain our status as a national maritime technology provider to ports and terminals, we have decided to rearrange our business to meet the future as more robust and current. Grieg Connect, the vital core of our overall business, is now in a scale-up position, and we have invested both capital and time in the respected company during 2021. Grieg Connect is now at the core of our business, ensuring that we apply technology to every delivery from Grieg Logistics.

The foundation of our business strategy is embedded in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. However, in addition to the Grieg Groups’ foundation and stretch goals, goals number 4 – quality education, 5 – gender equality, 9 –industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and 11 - sustainable cities and communities, are the most important ones.

In Grieg Logistics, we highly rely on customer relations and essential partnerships. It is delightful to witness that we create value for all customers, such as Alcoa in Mosjøen (Mosjøen Industrial Terminal (MiT), and Hydro, being the largest ones. We also cooperate closely with Inchcape Shipping Services, a world-leading marine services and supply logistics provider. It is also a pleasure to watch how Grieg Connect plays a crucial role in almost every port and terminal throughout Norway. Vidar Fagerheim and his team have secured new

partnerships during 2021, the port of Oslo and their digitalisation project being the largest one

The dawn of the 2-year long pandemic has been essential for Grieg Strategic Services. The Norwegian Armed Forces are their only client, and finally, operations and exercises can be carried out as planned. When writing this, GSS is working hard to make sure everything goes smoothly at the Norwegian-led exercise Cold Response 2022.

As for Grieg Logistics Shipservices, the market has finally stabilised and is now better than it has been for many years. Together with core operations, GSS has partnered with Yxney Maritime and Grieg Connect. Considering the increased need for precision and transparency in emissions reporting, Grieg Connect and VPS Yxney Maritime have developed NOxDigital – a solution to make adherence to emission regulations less of a challenge for vessel owners and operators. The platform is designed to remove complexity and create a level playing ground for everyone obliged to report their emission in Norwegian waters. The digital platform is available to all Norwegian shipping companies. In addition, international shipping companies will gain access through their agents. GSS is the first ship agent to use the platform, and we hope others will join them.

Grieg Logistics will take an even more significant part in the crucial digital shift in the maritime industry, providing advanced technology to partners and customers across sectors and countries. Because of our dedicated colleagues, we are well on our way to our strategic timeline and look forward to the future.

Our mission is to create results through innovative and sustainable logistics solutions for our customers.

People at Grieg Hans Peter Kibsgaard

As the COO of Grieg Strategic Services (GSS), Hans Peter Kibsgaard gets to use both his military experience from the Special Forces and his middle school logistics experience as a chocolate milk salesman.

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND CIVILIANS “Joining the Armed Forces had always been a dream for me. I started as a paratrooper for a year, before joining the Naval Special Operations Commando, where I stayed for ten years. I loved that job, and I looked forward to every single day at work. But for me, it wasn’t very compatible with being a family man,” Hans Peter says.

When looking for a more family-compatible job, Hans Peter knew he wanted something where he could tap into the knowledge and competence he built in the Armed Forces. When he learned about GSS, it didn’t take long to realise it was a good fit.

“In the Special Forces, you learn how to be creative, to come up with plans the enemy doesn’t expect. You also need to be solution-oriented and structured and have the determination and discipline to follow through despite resistance. I get to use all that in my job in GSS.”

COLLABORATING WITH THE MILITARY Grieg Strategic Services has a strategic agreement to provide logistics services to the Norwegian Armed Forces. The company has security-cleared project managers co-located with the National logistics operations centre, who use the Grieg Group’s expertise, resources, and network to deliver its services. By having project managers with both civilian and military experience, the company has a unique ability to provide tailor-made solutions.

In his position at GSS, one thing drives Hans Peter more than anything else: trying to optimise the collaboration between the military and civil society.

Strategic partnerships between the Armed Forces and civilian companies started to gain traction in 2015, and still, only a few parts of the army are used to collaborating with civilians.

“My goal is to build an assurance in the army that civilian companies can be a reliable resource and deliver high-quality services. To be cost-efficient, we have to

Off-topic

My role model: My wife. She’s driven, warm, great at meeting and really seeing people, and she always has good reflections and arguments.

The most important advice I’ve received: Every action has a reaction. My father gave me that advice. It’s about being conscious of every choice you make. Every choice has consequences – either for you or for others.

Gadget or app I can’t live without: iPhone and podcasts.

If I was prime minister for a day: I would build the Armed Forces without any district political ties.

If I could live another person’s life, it would be: The president of the United States. I assume that he learns and experiences a lot of exciting things, and he’s in a position to contribute to making the world a better place.

About Hans Peter Kibsgaard

• 36 years old

• Bachelor’s degree in Management from BI

Norwegian Business School

• Grieg Strategic Services, located in Oslo

make common use of available resources. I believe allowing civilians to support logistics, health, and other areas that don’t require military training, and letting the Armed Forces focus on what they do best, is the way to go.”

CHOCOLATE MILK AND VETERANS There is little doubt that Hans Peter is a man of initiative. This was apparent already in middle school when he was annoyed that the school cafeteria didn’t sell chocolate milk. It didn’t take long before he organised his own chocolate milk sale, with the profits contributing to financing a school trip.

According to him, that’s where he first discovered a knack for logistics. In recent years, he has used his initiative to work for an association called Neste Steg (Next Step). The association, of which Grieg Group is a partner, helps veterans and retired professional athletes bridge their experience, knowledge, and competence from the military and athletic career to a civilian one.

“Being in the military gives you so much experience. But the longer you’re in the military, the more adjusted to that world you become. Veterans tend to speak in a way that civilians don’t understand, making them feel like they don’t have anything to contribute. But they possess so much knowledge. Next Step helps them build awareness of their own competence and potential,” Hans Peter explains.

Cold Response: Ensuring a Smooth Operation for 30,000 Soldiers

Right now, thousands of soldiers are gathering in northern Norway for the military exercise Cold Response. But behind the scenes, Grieg Strategic Services (GSS) has already been working hard for months to make sure everything goes smoothly.

“While the exercise itself only lasts for a few weeks, the logistics required to transport and organise all personnel and materials is extensive. The first shipments arrived before Christmas, and the last will leave in May,” Hans Peter Kibsgaard, COO of GSS, explains.

The Norwegian-led exercise is held every second year. Cold Response 2022 will test air, sea, and land elements and gathers more than 30,000 soldiers from 27 countries. In addition to units from all the branches of the Norwegian Armed Forces, several civilian directorates, units, and organisations are set to participate.

Making sure everyone arrives when and where they should and that they have the right equipment, accommodation, and food, is no small task. That means that help from strategic partners, such as GSS, is crucial.

“A lot of our contributions are connected to maritime activities, such as receiving, unloading, and loading vessels. For us, it’s important to help promote Norwegian interests and security. We benefit from having allies here, training for efficient operations in our environment. Contributing to facilitating that is in our best interest,” Hans Peter says.

COMBINING CIVILIAN AND MILITARY EXPERIENCE One of GSS’s strengths is having project managers with both civilian and military experience, providing a unique ability to deliver tailor-made solutions.

As COO, Hans Peter oversees the strategic partnership with the Armed Forces. He has spent more than ten years as a soldier in the Naval Special Operations Commando and has participated in the Cold Response exercise several times.

“I was used to just being served excellent logistics without even thinking about all the work that laid behind it. Experiencing the other side of it in my job in GSS is very interesting. And I think that having experienced both sides is definitely beneficial, knowing what is needed and what is noticed.”

Having signed the strategic agreement with the Norwegian Armed Forces in 2017, this is the third Cold Response exercise GSS has contributed to. They also contributed during the 2018 Trident Juncture exercise, which was NATO’s largest exercise since 2002, hosting 50,000 participants from 31 nations.

SUPPORTING THE ARMED FORCES However, GSS’ agreement with the Norwegian Armed Forces goes beyond exercises. The aim is to strengthen their operational capability and preparedness through logistical support of operations and exercises nationally and internationally, including the support of allied forces.

GSS will also provide civilian coordination and management of strategic logistical cooperation in peace, crisis, conflict, and war. In addition, they cover the Armed Forces’ need for support in planning and implementing maritime operations and maritime support for visiting units.

The company has security-cleared project managers co-located with the Norwegian Joint Logistic Staff Group, who use the Grieg Group’s expertise, resources, and network to deliver its services.

One of them is Odd Are Sletten, who has been leased to the Armed Forces as acting Chief Planning and Production and Project Manager for all maintenance of the Navy’s surface vessels since June last year. You can read more about his experiences working in GSS and with the Armed Forces [here].