Only the best for - Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics

“
If there are any similarities between being an
off-shore skipper on a professional regatta
boat and the CEO role? Definitely. For me it’s
all about passion. You really have to believe in
what you are doing. I know sailing, but I know
a lot about organising teams as well. And I really love
this sport.”
Knut Frostad meets Venture in the headquarters of
the Volvo Ocean Race, in Whiteley right
outside Southampton. The Solent and
Hamle marina is just nearby, but for
Frostad and his team of approximately
30 professionals there is little time to
enjoy the sea, wind and sun. He admits
he will miss being out at sea during the
race. But at the same time he knows how
demanding it is.
“To participate in the Volvo Ocean
race is equivalent to top-level athletics.
The boats are bigger than ever, 70 feet
long. Whereas we had spinnakers of on
average 350 square metres on the old Volvo V60s, the
new ones are over 500 square metres. With a crew of
just 10 people, there will barely be any sleep. Professional
sailing on this level is a combination of brilliant
brains, tactics and good physical health,” saysthe CEO
in charge. No wonder the slogan for the race is “Life at
the extreme”.
“ I am very
confident
that we have
the best
logistics
partner for
the race”
the VolVo oCeAn rACe 2008/2009 is quite different
from the previous races. There are a lot of new ports
and as many as nine sailing legs. The race starts in Alicante,
Spain on the 11th October and has the following
ports of call: Cape Town (South Africa), Kochi (India),
Singapore, Qingdao (China), Rio De Janeiro (Brazil),
Boston (US), Galway (Ireland), Gothenburg and
Stockholm (Sweden) and St. Petersburg (Russia). The
longest leg – from China to Brazil – is 12,300 nautical
miles, the longest ever.
“On that particular leg, the crew and boats will
experience winter, spring, summer and autumn all in
one voyage. It’s a big challenge,” says Frostad.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) is the
MEET KNUT MAURiTz FROSTAd
Title: ceo Volvo ocean
race
Nationality: norwegian
Place of residence: oslo,
but for the time being southampton
Background: Professional
sailor, graduated from the
norwegian school of management
Bi.
Merits: four time participant
in the Volvo ocean race.
official logistics partner for the Volvo Ocean race
2008/2009. That means moving more than 100 containers
between each leg with all that is needed for building
the Race Villages in port, in addition to essential
race equipment and promotional supplies for the race
organisation and the participating syndicates.
“WWL was an obvious choice for us, with their
global logistics network. As official partner WWL has
demonstrated great knowledge and skills,
and I am very confident that we have the best
logistics partner for the race,” says Frostad.
During the conversation he reveals strong
ties to WWL, a relationship that goes all the
way back to 1995 when he was founder and
director of the Innovation Kvaerner team,
sponsored by Wilhelmsen Lines.
“I am impressed with the way WWL emphasises
values and human resources within
the organisation, at the same time being extremely
professional in handling customer
relations. WWL knows if you take care of the
inside of an organisation, the inside will take care of
the outside,” says Frostad.
he is Also A keen advocate of the keen relationship
between the race organisers and international shipping
to protect and improve the marine environment. For
the first time ever, the participating crews and teams
will take water samples during the course track. And
with equipment and expertise from Wallenius Water
and WWL, the biomass in the world oceans will be
analysed to explore the invasive species problem linked
to ballast water.
“I am very exited about this project, and looking
forward to see the results. As sailors we have a large
knowledge of meteorology and the use of wind, which
the shipping industry can benefit from. I am convinced
that in the future, wind will be part of the propulsion
also for commercial vessels,” Frostad states.
During his many voyages he has seen a lot of plastics
floating in the oceans. However, apart from the
visual pollution, he finds it hard to judge the state of
health of the world’s blue waters.
Being a professional sailor takes its toll. It’s hard to
maintain relations with good childhood friends and a
family of his own is still on the horizon. Still he has no
regrets:
“All in all I have gained a lot more than I have sacrificed.
I have friends in all parts of the world. And I have
had experiences at sea that I will remember forever.
There is a tranquillity and different pace out there that
you do not experience on shore. I am taken by the sea,
but think I have been very lucky.”
knut frostad,
ceo, volvo
ocean race
VENTURE 3 2008 13