OSV News

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The founder of Solstad Offshore, Capt. Johannes Solstad is celebrating his 95th Birthday today:

Johannes Solstad, the founder of Solstad, turns 95 years old today
He has spent his entire life in shipping, including serving as a Captain with the Norwegian America Line and as a Superintendent for the Scandinavian East-Africa Line, based on Madagascar Island, before establishing Solstad Rederi in 1964.

During the years, thousands of seafarers on hundreds of vessels have sailed with the Solstad flag. Offshore vessels and seafarers remain Johannes’ main interest, and he still receives market updates several times a week.

Join us in congratulating Johannes Solstad on his 95th birthday!

The Solstad Rederi history started with this ship in 1964:

“Soldrott” was a stately ship and the first in the Solstad shipping company.
Photo: Solstad

skipshistorie

The first OSV AHTS Normand Produce, blt. 1974:

skipshistorie

The company celebrated it’s 60th anniversary last year:
On September 15, 1964, Johannes Solstad bought his first ship. Two weeks earlier, he had hired two and started Solstad Rederi. Now, 2,300 employees will celebrate the shipping company’s 60th anniversary.

Founder, father and grandfather Johannes is now 93 years old, grandson Johannes is 21 years old, while dad and CEO Lars Peder is 53 years old. Photo: Private

Started as sailors

All three guys started out as sailors. Johannes, went to sea at the age of 17 with his father to the fisheries outside Iceand back in 1947, only two years after World War two. This was on the cutter “Ivan”. One year after he started as a deckhand on M/S Rena with Oslo as home port. It was not until 1964 Johannes Solstad decided to start the new chapter onshore. As Maritim Inspector on Madagaskar for Scandinavia East Africa Line, a daughter company of the Norwegian Americaline, he had met with Polack Synek Drotkowski at Rudolf Eidensen’s home. During their interaction, and shortly after hearing Solstad’s plan to establish his own shipping company, Mr. Drotkowski was quick with raising capital to invest in the new company.

While the youngest had his first job on board a ship in 2019, dad Lars Peder was also at sea before he went ashore in 1996. He started as a charterer before taking over as CEO of Solstad Shipping in 1999.
Three years later, he took over the management of Solstad Offshore ASA, where he still sits.

For the first ten years, Solstad owned dry cargo ships, but in 1973 they entered the offshore industry.

Source: https://www.kystens.no/nyheter/tre-generasjoner-solstad-feirer-60-ar/2-1-1684599