Presented by Norwegian Shipowners' Association ("NSA") and PGS to Executive Director Lise Kingo in United Nations Global Compact , Prime Minister Erna Solberg,

Global Ocean Data Initiative

Since 1991 the marine geophysical company PGS has acquired seismic data of the ocean subsurface worldwide, which oil companies use to find oil and gas reserves. This activity has created an extensive MultiClient data library and numerous data sets delivered to clients. In addition to seismic data the PGS vessels have also gathered great amounts of surplus data of the oceans like temperatures, salinity, depths, currents and weather conditions.

Today PGS has decided to open its surplus data base for the benefit of research on the ocean developments.

The Norwegian Shipowners' Association has on the basis on the initiative by PGS decided to invite the whole Norwegian fleet to take part in the project and share all surplus data of the oceans.

The oceans represent our most important global common resource. Healthy and productive oceans are essential to the prosperity and well-being of mankind. Some estimates show that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the world oceans. On one hand acidification, rising sea temperatures and pollution are already affecting life below water deeply. On the other hand, there are expectations for subsea energy supply, extraction of vital metals, mineral resources, food and bases for tomorrows medicines. Covering 70% of our planet, only 5% of the oceans are explored.

"Today we know more about the surface of the Moon than our own seabed", says Sturla Henriksen, CEO of NSA. "The oceans are holding vast arrays of important opportunities to ensure healthy food, new medicines, precious metals and minerals, renewable energy and green transportation for a rapidly growing world population. At the same time, the health of the oceans is rapidly deteriorating.  Ocean acidification is an urgent challenge, and it is a sad fact that unless we take action, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans within the next few decades. We must increase our knowledge of the oceans and this initiative will hopefully be a step in the right direction".

"As a part of our seismic acquisition we also collect numerous surplus data in order to improve the seismic imaging process", says Jon Erik Reinhardsen, President & CEO of PGS. "Examples of surplus data are water temperature and salinity through the water column, currents, and weather observations. As a responsible company we are fully committed to minimize the impact on the environment from our own operations. We also have a responsibility to contribute where we can to increase our collective understanding and knowledge of the oceanic environment. I am therefore pleased to share our surplus data with scientists in order to contribute to get a better understanding of the oceans where we operate, to the benefits of society at large."

Comment by Sintef Ocean

"This is a great gift to the research community and we can't wait to put the data to new use. We hope that both private and public companies answer to the invitation and follows PGS' example. Access to a wide range of data opens the possibility to develop new solutions that in turn can give Norway's ocean based industry competitive advantages." Vegard Johansen, CEO Sintef Ocean

Media Contact
PGS
Bård Stenberg: bard.stenberg@pgs.com  // +47 992 45 235

Norwegian Shipowners' Association
Erik Giercksky: ewg@rederi.no // +47 996 47 455

About:
The Norwegian Shipowners' Association is a trade and employment organization for Norwegian controlled companies within the shipping and offshore industry. The primary fields are national and international industry policies, employer issues, competence and recruitment, environmental issues and innovation in addition to safety at sea. Its members are the core and driving force in the Norwegian maritime cluster. NSA's members employ over 55,000 seafarers and offshore workers from more than 50 different nations on a fleet of more than 1,700 vessels operating worldwide.

PGS Petroleum Geo-Services ("PGS" or "the Company") is a focused marine geophysical company that provides a broad range of seismic and reservoir services, including acquisition, imaging, interpretation, and field evaluation. The Company's MultiClient data library is among the largest in the seismic industry, with modern 3D coverage in all significant offshore hydrocarbon provinces of the world. The Company operates on a worldwide basis with headquarters in Oslo, Norway.

Norwegian Fleet Pattern one full year