I’m here in the land of the Vikings, and I don’t mean Minnesota. Along with 14 others, I’ve come to Stavanger, Norway, as part of a contingent of marine editors/journalists to witness the unveiling of some new electronics from Navico and the company’s strategy to become a stronger player in the commercial marine marketplace.
Journalists crowd the console for a closer look at the radar aboard a test vessel heading to the North Sea. Ken Hocke photo.On Wednesday, we were taken to Navico’s brain center in Egersund, where the company laid out its campaign for us. (A sure way to get members of the media’s attention is, of course, to feed them, and we’re no different. Following lunch we were seated for a series of presentations, all of us within arms reach of cookies, candies and cakes — an obvious but successful move.)
Jose Herrero, managing director, commercial marine division, said that there are currently 15 brands in the commercial marine electronics market and Navico, which already has a big presence in the recreational marketplace, wants to be number one. “We think the market is going to consolidate. This is a very complex industry,” he said. “We are a manufacturer and distributor, and we want to have the competencies in house and control the price.” Asked if the company was leery of the push for market share while the offshore service vessel industry is suffering because of the price of a barrel of oil, he simply said, “We are not discouraged by the down offshore market.”
Following a series of presentations and bolstered by a sugar rush we climbed aboard a test vessel to witness firsthand how the latest Simrad commercial radar operates. (Navico is licensed to use Simrad products.) I will get into specifics at a later date, but suffice it to say that we followed the channel to the North Sea and back without anyone going into a diabetic coma and falling overboard. We took it as a victory and looked forward to that evening’s dinner, which was excellent because of a combination of the food and drink and the company.
Next stop Tau, Norway, and a ride aboard a high-speed catamaran ferry. Yes, lunch onboard.
