Until he was appointed Director General of Navigation and Shipping in January 2010, Olav Akselsen had been a member of the Storting for several years, including a period as Minister of Petroleum and Energy. Over his nine years at the NMA, he gained significant trust and goodwill from the shipping industry.
He worked actively to promote Norway as a flag State and make the NMA an attractive partner. Olav would have celebrated his 56th birthday on 28 August. He leaves behind a wife and three children.
“I was sad to receive the news of Olav Akselsen's passing. Akselsen has done remarkable work for the Norwegian Maritime Authority over many years. Moreover, he has played a key role in developing the NMA into a modern organisation which today is a vital partner in the development of the maritime industry, both in Norway and internationally. My thoughts are with his family and friends,” says Minister of Trade and Industry, Iselin Nybø.
“Olav quickly stood out as a generous and prominent leader in the NMA. Sadly, he became ill with cancer. However, that did not stop him from showing an interest in the NMA and in the maritime industry. We were deeply saddened to receive this news. Our warmest thoughts are with Olav’s family,” says Acting Director General of Navigation and Shipping, Lars Alvestad.
The family have requested that their privacy is respected at this time. Any questions can be directed to the Head of Communication and Public Relations at the NMA, Dag Inge Aarhus on tel. +47 957 41 729