Facts & Figures
New members
15
Trade missions
1
Webinars
3
Training courses
2
Exhibitions
1
Timeline 2020
Jan
Feb
Feb
Feb
May
May
Jul
Jul
Oct
Nov
Dec
Dec
IRO & corporate responsibility
Discovering, cleaning up and protecting the North Sea
Stichting Duik de Noordzee Schoon believes in a clean and healthy North Sea where fishing, energy production and recreation are sustainably in harmony with flora and fauna. Initiated by experienced North Sea wreck divers, the Foundation highlights the importance of natural and artificial reefs in the North Sea. Fully funded by their own contributions and donations, expedition members dedicate themselves to protecting the North Sea. Annually, they organise one or more expeditions to special areas of the North Sea with the aim to increase knowledge of the North Sea, and to protect shipwrecks from destruction and waste disposing.
Adventures In the deep
The volunteers of Stichting Duik de Noordzee Schoon are a great source of inspiration to the IRO board. To support the Foundation IRO joined forces with Energy Reinvented Community in October 2020. Together they funded the translation of the Foundation’s adventure book IN THE DEEP into English, making it accessible to an international audience.
IRO supporting partner of platform Recharge Earth
IRO has become a Supporting Partner of the Recharge Earth platform. This initiative by Rotterdam Ahoy brings together relevant parties in the field of energy supply and energy transition, so that the dialogue can continue and with the ultimate aim to take coordinated action. Recharge Earth focuses on collaboration and knowledge exchange between all groups that play a role in the energy transition: governments, companies, knowledge centers, service providers and non-profit.
Sander Vergroesen, IRO managing director: “The IRO members are closely involved in the energy transition. By means of the innovative nature of the offshore energy sector, our members actively contribute to the necessary change in the future of the energy supply. As IRO, we facilitate the platform where partnerships can be established and we ensure international visibility for our sector. Therefore, we wholeheartedly support the Recharge Earth initiative. Only together we can progress in this important transition. ”
More information about Recharge Earth: www.recharge-earth.com
IRO across the border
Export promotion
Export promotion is one of the key areas of interest of IRO and working closely together with different stakeholders is vital. IRO cooperated with embassies around the globe to participate in virtual fairs, among others in Mozambique, Mexico and Malaysia. There has also been regular contact with Brazil, UAE, Kuwait, Suriname and the US. Our embassies in those countries played an important role in 2020. Also during the ambassadors conference that took place in The Hague in January 2020 plans were discussed with ambassadors from all over the world.
Unfortunately due to Covid all exhibitions were canceled or postponed. We are looking forward, as soon as this is possible, to present our wonderful members in the Holland Pavilions around the globe in 2021 again.
The maritime future is now!
This ground-breaking campaign has been developed in collaboration with and for the Dutch maritime sector and highlights innovative maritime projects. The Dutch maritime sector is eager to share its knowledge and expertise with its international partners. To do so, it has defined the following four pillars.
- developing zero-emission and smart shipping
- creating green, vibrant and connected port cities around the world
- advancing the sustainable blue economy with healthy and productive oceans
- acting as a green gateway to Europe
The maritime future is now, so let’s shape it together!
IRO & the public eye
New members in the spotlight
In a short interview new IRO members are put in the spotlight with questions such as ‘What do you excel at?’, ‘What convinced you to become a member?’, ‘What do you have to offer the other members?’. Read their interiews here:
- Nedal Aluminium
- Etteplan
- Saltwater Engineering
- Critical Minds
- DroneQ Aerial Services
- Fibremax
- VIRO
- Inmarsat
Interviews by IRO
Several interviews or input for articles were provided in national and international media over the year. Topics ranged from overviews of the Dutch offshore oil, gas, offshore renewable and marine energy industry to the innovative mentality of the Dutch suppliers’ industry and the strength of networking in the industry.
Read here the interview ‘Energy transition as an anchor point in times of fear’ in Maritiem Nederland.
Read here the entire interview ‘The offshore industry is innovative and challenging’ in the supplement to the Financieel Dagblad in November 2020.
Connect and stay visible!
Especially in this uncertain time connecting and staying visible is so very important! We do our best to continue to fulfill our connecting role for IRO members. A number of resources are available on our website (company profile, press releases, Linkedin) in order to profile your company properly and to remain visible. Take advantage of this and share your news with us at info@iro.nl.If you have any questions or want to share your thoughts, please reach out, we are happy to help!
IRO Linkedin company page reaches more than 2000 followers!
Have you been linked yet? Follow our Linkedin company page and stay up to date with the latest offshore related news and our activities!
IRO & partners
Membership VNO-NCW
IRO became a member of VNO-NCW on 1 May 2020. We see this membership as an important step to be heard and supported even better in the future. Together with our partners from Nederland Maritiem Land and from VNO-NCW, we are convinced that we will be even better able to advocate the importance of the Dutch Offshore Energy Industry at the highest level with our government.
(International) cooperation with other organisations
Over the year much attention was paid to cooperation with other organisations and associations for the purpose of exchanging information and exploring common areas of interest. IRO would like to thank, among others, the following organisations for their pleasant cooperation: Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Dutch embassies and consulates abroad, Maritime by Holland (NML), FME, the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers (KIVI), the Central Dredging Association (CEDA), NOGEPA, SodM, IADC, DMEC and Nationaal Duurzaamheidsinstituut (NDI).
Young IRO
It was a strange year also for Young IRO. As everyone in the IRO community we had to turn around our way of working and planning as a result of the pandemic. Not always easy, but we made it work!
- 2020 was the year for Young IRO where we quickly switched from live to digital with a Vrijmibo Pubquiz with over 80 applicants in March and follow-up Quiz at the Offshore Energy Conference.
- Collaborated with the IRO to organise a webinar on working remotely and communication during a crisis
- Had an amazing live event at STC-KNRM where participants survived offshore conditions and got to talk about it over a BBQ on a lovely summer’s day.
- We also appointed our first female chair, with Sophie van Zanten taking over from Bernard Alblas.
- Reached a LinkedIn-follower milestone of 1200 and counting
- Have Young-IRO members at 131 IRO member companies
Looking ahead at 2021
We couldn’t execute all our plans and events last year, but not to worry because we’ll continue in 2021! Together with our new IRO board members Ivo Muller (Van Oord) and Meike Kolthof (Heerema), we’ll be powered up and energised to make this year a success.
Young IRO’s mission is to connect and inspire the younger generation of ambitious IRO community professionals to shape the energy industry of tomorrow. To do that, we’ve already got some cool and interesting activities lined up that focus on the industry trends and professional development for our Young IRO community, both digital and live. Stay tuned!
Sincerely, the Young IRO Board
Sophie van Zanten, Timon Ligterink, Paul Schoenmakers, Ruben de Nie, Thijs Kamphuis, Ivo Muller, Meike Kolthof