Since joining Höegh Autoliners as a Maritime Trainee in 2021, Thea Kruse Valvatne has had some amazing experiences. The best so far? A hands-on trip on the Höegh Trigger, a roll-on/roll-off vessel that can carry 8,500 cars.
Thea says,
Being on the Höegh Trigger was a brilliant experience. I participated in almost every operation on board and met some amazing people. I feel very lucky to be an employee in Höegh Autoliners.
says CEO of North Ammonia, Vidar Lundberg.
As a Maritime Trainee, Thea is exposed to different projects within the organisation, gaining experience that she can use in her future career. Thea studied marine technology and seeing that technology in action on a vessel is an important step in her development.
“I knew about all the components from school, but now I have much more knowledge about how it all really works,” she explains. “For example, I saw the magnitude of logistics needed for every operation. I went through the planning with the team, and the next day got to see it all in real life. There’s a huge amount of effort required to ensure the vessel runs smoothly and operations are completed on time.”
For Thea, it’s hard to choose a single highlight from the trip, but she was perhaps most impressed by the docking procedures. During its 12-day journey, the Höegh Trigger called at Gothenburg, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Le Havre, Southampton and Santander – and every stop was a high-precision operation.
“The pilots that guide the vessel into port come on board at really high speed, climbing from the pilot boat up a ladder while the vessel is in full motion – it’s quite impressive to see,” she says. “And I really enjoyed helping the crew with the mooring operation. It was great to see how it is actually done.”
Thea is keen to grasp the international career opportunities offered by the shipping industry. Her long-term goal is to be part of creating a zero-emissions future. She wants to contribute to the maritime industry’s carbon reduction targets – and understanding how our vessels operate will stand her in good stead.
Thea adds,
Höegh Autoliners has already taken a giant leap towards greener operations and I believe we will see even more changes in the near future. I need to understand as much of the business as possible if I’m going to be part of these changes. Being a Maritime Trainee at Höegh Autoliners is an excellent way to do that.
28 January 2022
Rail projects usually have tight delivery times so having a reliable shipping partner is important. With Höegh Autoliners’ experienced team, specialised rail handling equipment, and unbeatable liner service, SARR Freight India was confident they were in safe hands.
13 March 2025
Höegh Autoliners is introducing an updated Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) effective April 2025. This enhanced BAF ensures greater adaptability to future fuel requirements while maintaining transparency and predictability.
03 March 2025
In the summer of 2024, after the Paris Olympic Games, the sculling pioneer Kjetil Borch retired after a lifetime on the biggest international stage – with an impressive result list and medal tally to his name. Now an intern at Höegh Autoliners through Neste Steg (Next Step), an organization preparing former elite athletes and military personnel for what’s next after their active careers, he is exploring the wonders of another ocean trait very different from the world he’s learned to master after 21 years of rowing: The shipping sector.
28 February 2025
Shipping heavy equipment brings several unique logistical challenges. Items such as agricultural machinery or construction equipment are not only large and heavy but rarely break down into smaller components. This makes the loading, transportation, and unloading a lot more complex, introducing potential safety concerns and costly handling procedures. To add to the complexities, heavy equipment shipping overseas is most commonly required for projects, which are often tied to strict deadlines and timelines. Therefore, it usually needs to reach its final destination on time, while any delays could introduce significant costs too.
