One-hundred thousand dollars (USD) will be awarded to the recipient of the second bi-annual Thor Heyerdahl International Maritime Environmental Award to be presented in Oslo during the international shipping conference and exhibition Nor-Shipping, June 2003. Even though environmental problems of the oceans, and their causes, have received increased international awareness during the last decades, marine environmental degradation has continued and in many places even intensified, maintains the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA), who launched the Award together with the late Thor Heyerdahl in 1999.

In order to qualify, candidates must show a commitment to the preservation, protection, enhancement, or sustainability of the marine environment. This might include launching innovative environmental measures above and beyond legal requirements or developing new environmental measures that are feasible and financially sustainable. The Foundation established a certification system, Green Award, to spotlight shipping companies investing in the quality of ship and crew. A Green Award ship meets high, but manageable technical and managerial requirements. An increasing number of ports and nautical providers now offer special rates and other advantages to Green Award Vessels. The NSA hopes that the Award will promote marine environmental stewardship and sustainable development through stimulating public awareness of progress and recognizing best practices in the shipping industry by celebrating and advancing environmental excellence.