From Olympic medals and world championships to intern at Höegh Autoliners – and the journey of a lifetime from Scandinavia to South Africa

The Port of Le Havre is a bustling place, says Kjetil Borch. And enormous, too.

From his new temporary home onboard the Höegh Target, the former world champion and two-time Olympic medalist in rowing is soundly impressed by the size of the Normandy port from where he boarded the Horizon Class vessel a few days earlier.

Understandably, Le Havre was once a strategic stronghold and battleground during WWII. Today, it is France’s second-largest tonnage port and a vital hub for deep-sea transportation and global trade.

“After entering the port area, we drove 10-15 minutes before arriving at the vessel. At that point, the 40-meter-high steel colossus of the Höegh Target had long dwarfed most other ships and vessels in the otherwise immensely impressive port,” Borch says enthusiastically.

Le Havre is, in other words, a fitting place for Kjetil Borch to embark on his new maritime endeavors. In the summer of 2024, after the Paris Olympic Games, the rowing pioneer 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, Kjetil Borch 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.

After three weeks at headquarters in Oslo, Borch began an adventure in two parts last week.

Onboard Höegh Target, the first part will take him through the English Channel, passing Europe’s west coast to Santander and Tangier, Marocco, before heading to Durban along Africa’s western coastline, ending up in South Africa in three weeks’ time.

The second part will be spent at the Höegh office in Durban before he returns to Norway at the beginning of April.

According to Borch, the beginning of his trip was all positive. Last Tuesday’s first encounter with his 8,600-ceu home was goosebump-inducing - but not because of the chilly French winter weather:

“Stepping onto the enormous ramp of the Höegh Target and into its main deck was like entering a colossal cathedral of maritime engineering.”

Sculls are narrow, lightweight rowing boats used in competitive rowing, designed for speed and agility over shorter distances.

Höegh Autoliners’ fleet - the world’s most environmentally friendly PCTC fleet - on the other hand, consists of massive, purpose-built vessels designed for the secure transportation of cars, trucks, breakbulk, and high & heavy machinery during long ocean voyages.

But apart from that difference, Kjetil Borch has prepared well for his new life while competing for gold and glory. He spent four years at maritime school, finishing as a navigator in 2013. Recently, he concluded his master's studies in Maritime Management, a blend of technical prowess and structural ingenuity.

Although no stranger to being on the water or even to majestic vessels, Kjetil Borch experienced some hectic first days on the Höegh Target:

“There was a lot to absorb and a high pace in the beginning. One thing was getting to know the nooks and crannies of the vessel; another thing was navigating the cramped confines of the car decks. Being just shy of two meters high, I don’t see much other than the overhead steel constructions on the fully packed 1.7-meter-high car decks, otherwise tightly packed with endless rows of vehicles,” Borch says with a smile."

“All jokes aside, it has been a fantastic experience. Witnessing the meticulous loading operations and seeing how massive 50-ton belts are placed, secured, and tightly lashed in a Tetris-type operation is both impressive and a testament to the paramount importance of safety in maritime operations,” he says.

By now, Kjetil Borch has immersed himself in the daily rhythms of life at sea, documenting fire safety protocols, implementing innovative and operations-improving apps in collaboration with DNV, and soaking in every lesson the maritime world has to offer. According to the Norwegian, being a part of the Chinese crew he’s tasted more food he never knew existed in a couple of days than ever before.

One thing, however, has surprised the 35-year-old the most: the camaraderie of the Chinese crew. According to Borch, there is an atmosphere comparable to the vibe from the experiences he has had with the Norwegian national rowing team:

“I am the sole non-Chinese on board. But I have been warmly welcomed into their fold in a manner I had never imagined. The crew's relentless efforts to communicate – even when language barriers sometimes make it difficult- and their infectious sense of humor have bridged our differences, washed away the feeling of being new, and created a sense of belonging similar to my time with the national team. The shared laughter and unspoken understanding have made it a start that has surpassed my expectations about the journey. I like life onboard.”

As Kjetil looks ahead to his time in South Africa, he is filled with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. The internship with Höegh Autoliners promises a wealth of experiences, from engaging with various departments to understanding the intricacies of maritime operations.

He is eager to explore the opportunities for growth and personal development, unbound by the constraints of a fixed position:

"My goal is to get as much experience within shipping and the different departments and get wiser about what I want to do long-term and which direction I should take. I feel this opportunity is the perfect place for just that," Kjetil Borch says.

For now, the direction is due south, with Santander and the Bay of Biscay as the first stops on his onboard adventure.

Outside, the temperature doesn’t allow for the top-deck basketball court to be used – unless we would use skates, as Borch jokes on the WhatsApp call after a loading stop in the Swedish winter in Gothenburg.

“So far, I’ve only experienced losing in ping-pong to a guy who played poorly out of politeness but crushed me anyway. But the crew has promised me that when we get to the western coast of Africa in a few weeks, we will barbecue and play basketball. I hope I can take advantage of my height,” he says, doing little to hide the fact that his competitive instinct is fully intact despite his retirement from elite sports.

This article will be updated weekly as Kjetil Borch’s adventures aboard Höegh Target unfold