Hildegunn’s farewell drinks on 9 August, please come along!
With only 3 weeks remaining in London I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and see you later. I have been with NBCC the last 3 years and enjoyed every second. I am now returning to university in Trondheim. To read my memo in the latest Connections magazine click here.

It would be great to see you before I go so please stop by for a drink on Monday 9 August from 6pm (no registration necessary):
The Angelsea Arms
15 Selwood Terrace
London SW7 3QG
(Click here for map)

Aker Solutions to deliver on-vessel mooring system to ENI Norge
Aker Solutions has won a contract with Eni Norge for the design and supply of an on-vessel Pusnes mooring systemTM for the Goliat FPSO. The total contract value for Aker Solutions is approximately NOK 150 million. Read more

More numerical functions for C & C++ developers
The largest commercially available collection of numerical algorithms for C and C++---NAG C Library—widely used for oil and gas engineering application development, has now been expanded by the Numerical Algorithms Group. Read more

Kongsberg Maritime: Norway's AIS AISSat-1 satellite starts mission
With payload developed by Kongsberg Seatex AS, the AISSat-1 was launched successfully from India on July 12th this year. Using the technology in a fully developed system will improve safety at sea for vessels in Norwegian waters. Read more

First certified training for ice navigation
“Representing the world’s only competence standard in this area we are stressing the importance that the additional challenges in Arctic waters must be met with a highly skilled crew,” says Jon Rysst, DNV’s regional manger of Norway, Finland and Baltics. Read more

Purchase of platform supply vessel
Farstad Shipping Ltd., a wholly owned UK subsidiary of Farstad Shipping, has entered into an agreement to buy the platform supply vessel Seabed Viking. Read more

EU plans to strengthen rules for offshore drilling
The European Commission is planning to toughen rules covering accident prevention and liability for offshore oil drilling in response to BP's Gulf of Mexico spill. Read more

BT and TalkTalk challenge Digital Economy Act
BT and TalkTalk are seeking a judicial review of the controversial Digital Economy Act, BBC News has learned. The two internet service providers want the High Court to clarify the legality of the act before it is implemented. The act was "rushed through" parliament before the general election, they say. Read more

Facebook hits 500m user milestone
Social network giant Facebook has registered its 500 millionth member, the firm has announced. The site, which launched in 2004, has gained around 100 million new users in the last six months. Facebook said the number was "an important milestone" and added that it was "humbled and inspired" by the stories of its users, which it is asking people to share on the site. Read more

Pirate traders exploit Internet sales model
Internet sales of counterfeit and pirated goods to European consumers are frustrating attempts to stem illegal trade, a European Commission report said yesterday (22 July). Three quarters of illegal shipments stopped by EU customs officials in 2009 were shipped by post or air, suggesting that Internet sales of illegal items have increased. Read more

EU urged to promote 'territorial vision' of farming
Meeting in Brussels earlier this week, agriculture stakeholders from across Europe have called on the EU to move away from intensive farming to a more sustainable model that supports the economic renaissance of rural areas. Read more

UN lists post-Kyoto options if no climate deal
The UN's climate agency has for the first time detailed contingency options if the world cannot agree a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, whose present round expires in 2012 with no new deal in sight. Read more

Carbon labels potentially misleading, study warns
Labelling consumer products with their carbon footprint is not the best approach to combating global warming as the labels at their worst increase negative environmental impacts and mislead consumers, according to European consumer organisation ANEC. Read more

EU mulls gender quotas on company boards
The European Commission is considering introducing quotas to tackle gender imbalances in the decision-making bodies of private companies, where only 10% of members are women. "Equality in decision-making is not yet a fact," EU Fundamental Rights Commissioner Viviane Reding told a hearing of the European Parliament's women's rights and gender equality committee. Read more

EU agrees key criteria for testing health of banks
European Union officials have agreed the key criteria of stress tests for the bloc's banks, including the minimum level of capital, EU sources said, as senior policymakers voiced optimism on the results. Read more

Norway modelling for sporty Brits!
Visit Norway is looking for four people to be the stars of its postcard photo-shoot in Northern Norway – no modelling experience required! The Norwegian Tourist Board in the UK, Visit Norway, needs ordinary people aged 25-65 who enjoy outdoor activities for its adventurous modelling campaign this summer. Read more

Norwegian triple in Tall Ships Race
The Norwegian training ship "Christian Radich" won the first leg of the Tall Ships Races (TSR) from Antwerp, Belgium to Ålborg in Denmark. Norway's "Statsraad Lehmkuhl" and Sørlandet" came 2nd and 3rd. Read more

Nordic designers at London Design Festival
ÖÖ, meaning night in Estonian, is a Nordic avant-garde art and design project launched as part of London Design Festival this year. The collaborative project by a community of avant-garde creatives from six Nordic countries is initiated and produced by a young Estonian curator, Merilyn Keskula. They are urgently looking for some help to make this project happen- from support with set-up and transport to being the official sponsor of the private view / launch party on 14th September. Read more

Norwegian events in the UK
Whatever you choose to do, enjoy it! Read more