A cluster analysis of the maritime sector in Norway

Abstract

This article analyses the maritime sector in Norway from a cluster perspective. The maritime sector in Norway is probably best known globally due to the country's large merchant marine fleet, but Norway also has a substantial maritime industry consisting of numerous shipyards, ship equipment manufacturers, and ship consultants, and a plethora of other companies and institutions with maritime oriented activities. These actors have together made up the essential components of the Norwegian maritime cluster. Strong interdependencies between actors in various parts of the sector and an emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship have historically contributed to define a strong and dynamic industrial cluster. In recent years, innovation appears to have slowed down and there are signs of a growing cleavage between the manufacturing and services parts of the Norwegian maritime sector: the international competitiveness of the maritime industry has gradually eroded, as has the strength of relations across the various parts of the maritime sector.