The SBSCA sails into high gear with One Ocean Week Seattle
- Lori Ann Reinhall
- Oct 12
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 16
The month of October has been a month of activities like no other for the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association (SBSCA), starting with a gala celebration of Crossings on Leif Erikson Day, Oct. 9, at Leif Erikson Hall in Ballard.
Cosponsored by the Sons of Norway Leif Erikson Lodge and the Norwegian Commercial Club, the evening included a gourmet dinner, live music, a slideshow of the Restauration sailaway in Stavanger, and heartfelt messages from the organizers and Honorary Norwegian Consul Viggo Forde.. For those lucky enough to secure one of the 200 tickets, it was an evening to remember.
But the celebration of Crossings is not over, as the evening set the tone for what is to come with the kickoff of One Ocean Week Seattle on Oct. 20 and the arrival of the tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl two days later.
The Statsraad Lehmkuhl, a three-masted barque based in Bergen, is regarded as one of the world's most beautiful sailing ships. Built over 100 years ago, it serves as a school ship for the Royal Norwegian Navy and an ocean-going research vessel. Currently, it is circumventing the globe as part of the One Ocean Expedition, with the mission to raise awareness about the ocean's critical role in a sustainable future.
Last spring, the SBSCA was part of a delegation from Seattle to Bergen for One Ocean Week, an annual event with international participation. The delegation included representatives from the City of Seattle, the Port of Seattle, the National Nordic Museum, and Washington Maritime Blue, headed by Founder and President/CEO Joshua Berger.
During the week in Norway, it was confirmed that Seattle would host a delegation from Bergen for the first One Ocean Week Seattle this fall. Now, under the leadership of SBSCA President Lori Ann Reinhall and Vice President Morten Blomsø, our sister-city organization is proud to be part of the planning committee and is looking forward to actively participating.
The week of Oct. 20 – 26 will be filled with a variety of activities with a focus on maritime innovation and sustainability, as Seattle showcases itself as a global maritime hub. Industry leaders, policymakers, and the broader community will be in attendance, including the mayors of our two sister cities, collaboration high on the agenda.
“Seattle is a city shaped by the water — it drives our history, economy, and culture,” says Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “As a hub for maritime innovation, hosting One Ocean Week lets us share that story with the world while leading on solutions to protect our oceans, grow good jobs, and build a sustainable future for all.”
One Ocean Week builds on the momentum of the United Nations Ocean Decade, searching for solutions to create a blue economy. Maritime decarbonization, sustainable seafood, renewable ocean energy, healthy ecosystems, and digital ocean technologies are topics that will be explored.
The week’s highlights will include:
The arrival of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl at Pier 66
One Ocean Week Summit, with panels with industry leaders and decision-makers
An Innovation Showcase featuring researchers, startups, and investors
Cultural and educational programs, including the two-day HarborFest, an indoor-outdoor marketplace featuring a mix of local and regional vendors and performers
Most of the events require registration, some with fees, although many programs are offered free of charge. You can check out the entire schedule on the Washington Maritime Blue One Ocean Week Seattle website.
Throughout the week, the SBSCA will be interacting with the delegation from Bergen. We will also be hosting an informational booth at HarborFest, where the public can learn more about our programs. We look forward to seeing you there!
