Tanker Summit – Looking back to look ahead: 55 years of INTERTANKO and industry evolution
30 May 2025
Session 2 of the 2025 INTERTANKO Tanker Summit, “Reflecting on 55 Years of Change: INTERTANKO and the tanker industry since 1970”, offered a rich and reflective look at the history of INTERTANKO and the tanker industry, tracing the Association’s journey from its foundation in 1970 to its modern-day role in a globalised and geopolitically complex world. It was presented and moderated by Professor Stig Tenold, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, NHH Norwegian School of Economics.
Professor Tenold led a captivating narrative that divided INTERTANKO’s story into distinct eras – a happy infancy, a troubled adolescence, and a purposeful maturity – against a backdrop of global economic, political, and environmental shifts. Drawing on historical headlines and long-term trade data, he illustrated how INTERTANKO has navigated oil crises, regulatory upheavals, globalisation, and rising environmental expectations while making deliberate choices to shape the industry's future. For anyone who missed it, or would like to review some of the fascinating content, the slides can be found here.
Following the presentation, INTERTANKO Chair Rolf Westfal-Larsen Jr, Chief Executive Officer of Westfal-Larsen Management and Managing Director Tim Wilkins, joined Professor Tenold for an engaging on-stage discussion. They reflected on the lessons of the past and how those experiences are guiding the Association’s priorities and leadership today, supported by four former INTERTANKO leaders – Dagfinn Lunde, Svein Ringbakken, Peter Swift and Kathi Stanzel, who were in the room and called upon to share their perspectives.
Set against the Summit’s broader geopolitical themes, this session grounded the day’s discussions in the historical context of tanker shipping and reaffirmed INTERTANKO’s enduring mission: to be a responsible, effective, and forward-looking voice for independent tanker owners. The session was kindly sponsored by ABS.
Contact: Events@intertanko.com
