When new ocean areas are to be explored, fishing quotas set or mines detected, sonars from Horten do the job. Kongsberg Maritime is the world's leading company in sonar equipment for exploration, mapping and management of the world's oceans and marine resources. The company develops maritime solutions that are used on boats and subsea vessels in all the world's oceans.

“We supply sonars and echo sounders that see and map the seabed in great detail. Our equipment is also used to monitor how much fish and what kind of fish are in the sea, as well as to detect unwanted objects in the sea, such as mines,” explains Bjørn Jalving, head of subsea operations at Kongsberg Maritime.

RESEARCH VESSELS IN ALL THE WORLD'S OCEANS

The company leads technology development in the field and is a major supplier to research vessels around the world.

The sonars are also installed in small autonomous subsea vessels which are boarded on research ships on ocean expeditions. These vessels are also developed in Horten.

“We deliver our own autonomous, self-driving underwater vessels with advanced sonar equipment that can go down to a depth of 6,000 metres,” Jalving says.

PROXIMITY TO THE SEA

Kongsberg Maritime is located on Strandpromenaden in Horten. In total, there are about 420 people working there in different capacities: sales people who know the market, developers who give the company a technological edge, professional project managers and skilled people in administration and production.

As well as easy access to skilled employees in Horten, proximity to the sea is of great importance to Kongsberg Maritime.

“We have three boats out on the fjord at any given time, throughout the year. On board we develop, demonstrate and test our systems. Our being located here in Horten, right by the Oslo Fjord, is therefore essential,” says Jalving.

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES

The ocean is absolutely crucial to the future of humanity. 70% of the earth is covered by ocean. Good management of ocean resources is therefore vital for sustainable development. And in that future perspective, Kongsberg Maritime has an important role to play.

“The sea gives us food in the form of fish, it gives us energy and it gives us 50% of the oxygen we breathe. That is why it is vital to take good care of the sea. Among other things, 90% of all quotas for sustainable fishing are set with calibrated equipment delivered and produced by us in Horten. Through our systems, we contribute to sustainable aquaculture, and that is something we are very proud of and that we will only get even better at in the future,” says Jalving.