A distinguished delegation led by Norwegian Maritime Directorate Shipping and Navigation Director General of Mr. Olav Akselsen and Det Norske Veritas ("DNV") Vice President Mr. Trond Hodne visited China Rongsheng Heavy Industries on 22 January 2013. As the only selected Chinese shipbuilding corporation existed in the delegations' schedule, China Rongsheng's top management team warmly welcomed the honorable guests and many remarkable names from the Norwegian maritime industry including Grieg Group, Havila, T. Klaveness Shipping, Knutsen OAS and other representatives from banking and insurance community.

In his address China Rongsheng Heavy Industries Chairman of Board and CEO Mr. Chen Qiang expressed his wish to extend the cooperation with Norwegian maritime community and which would help the Group shortening the learning curve in offshore engineering and further strengthening its capability in this growing high-end market. Other senior management including Jiangsu Rongsheng Heavy Industries President Mr. Chen Guo Rong also shared their thoughts in innovative designs, green technology and offshore engineering.

China Rongsheng is striving for further achievements in business strategic upgrade in 2013. Besides green shipbuilding, the Group is boosting its offshore engineering business after the official opening of Rongsheng Offshore & Marine in Singapore. Having received the first order 2,000m Tender Assisted Drilling Barge, the new subsidiary is contributing to the Group's strategy with a more reliable and consistent offshore engineering marketing platform in overseas.

Mr. Akselsen recognized the achievement by China Rongsheng in the past few years and insists his confidence in the future of the Group. As a Chinese shipbuilding and offshore engineering entity approved by National Development and Reform Commission, China Rongsheng delivered its first vessel to a Norwegian ship owner 2008. Mr. Hodne remarked, China Rongsheng also delivered the world's first DPV featuring 3,000-meter deepwater pipe-laying, 4,000 tonnes of lifting capacity and DP-3 dynamic positioning capability, which reiterated his confidence in technological prowess and management capability of the Group.

Norwegian Shipowners' Association, organizer of the distinguished delegation, is an employer organization serving more than 160 companies in the field of Norwegian shipping and offshore contractor activities. Their members are the core and driving force within the Norwegian maritime environment, employing more than 55,000 seafarers and offshore workers from more than 50 different nations. DNV is one of the major classification societies in the world. As it announced last year, DNV has signed an agreement to merge with GL. The new entity will be called DNV GL Group and will be headquartered and registered in Norway. It will be one of the world's leading ship classification societies and risk experts in the oil and gas, renewable energy and power sectors, and among the global top three within management system certification. With more than 17.000 employees and an extensive global network of offices, its combined turnover may reach some EUR 2.5 billion.
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